Good morning! It’s Monday, and look who just emerged from the chrysalis. She’ll sit here for a few hours more, waiting for her brand new wings to dry. And then, with a flutter, off she’ll go. “Live on, survive, for the earth gives forth wonders. It may swallow your heart, but the wonders keep on coming.”
We planted swamp milkweed at camp a couple years ago. It came back this season and I think is propagating itself. Looking forward to the day in entices some monarchs!
I smiled the other day when I was out walking with my husband when, for the first time in probably 38 years (the last summer I spent in Wisconsin before heading south to Texas), I saw leaves that looked very familiar and I thought “could that be milkweed? Am I remembering that right?” And then I looked up and saw the seed pods and congratulated my brain for digging that memory up! I’m going to try to remember to grab some of the ripened pods for my wetland patch. And now that I know the plants are around, I’m going to see if I can spy any are already in the wetland now. The area is FULL of goldenrod flowers and it’s hard to see exactly what else is growing there!
I like to think of myself as someone who is fairly observant, yet I have never seen a live (or left behind) chrysalis! But monarchs were very few this year. I'll keep looking. Thanks for the photo and words, as always, Clara.
Just came from the international news. What a relief to be with YOU❣️Clara, your pictures are just stunning, espec this one with the “wrapper” in the background❣️(Can’t remember what the wrapper is called, offhand. Oh well...🙃) I know there’s chrysalis, but isn’t that when someone is inside, waiting and changing, not just the wrap? Hafta look it up. (Love my phonetoy!)
Gorgeous! This year we attempted to grow a number of Milkweed plants in anticipation of our own “flock” of Monarchs. As it turns out Milkweed is a challenge to grow! Luckily we planted many (some after encouraging seeds and some as young plants) so we have had some success but I suspect we have a few more years before we see lovely Monarchs.
Every butterfly sighting this summer has been a treasure; sadly, it is because they are so few. We have two big butterfly bushes and last summer they teemed with butterflies, large and small and including the dramatic zebra swallowtails.
Thanks for your gift of this post. It is an alternative to violence. If each of us turned to another person in that spirit of appreciation for Creation maybe we could tame greed in half the population...
September 11, 2023
We planted swamp milkweed at camp a couple years ago. It came back this season and I think is propagating itself. Looking forward to the day in entices some monarchs!
I smiled the other day when I was out walking with my husband when, for the first time in probably 38 years (the last summer I spent in Wisconsin before heading south to Texas), I saw leaves that looked very familiar and I thought “could that be milkweed? Am I remembering that right?” And then I looked up and saw the seed pods and congratulated my brain for digging that memory up! I’m going to try to remember to grab some of the ripened pods for my wetland patch. And now that I know the plants are around, I’m going to see if I can spy any are already in the wetland now. The area is FULL of goldenrod flowers and it’s hard to see exactly what else is growing there!
I like to think of myself as someone who is fairly observant, yet I have never seen a live (or left behind) chrysalis! But monarchs were very few this year. I'll keep looking. Thanks for the photo and words, as always, Clara.
She’s exquisite!
I have seen one monarch butterfly this summer, thank you for the most beautiful quote!❤️
Cocoon? That simple? For heaven’s sake!😄
Just came from the international news. What a relief to be with YOU❣️Clara, your pictures are just stunning, espec this one with the “wrapper” in the background❣️(Can’t remember what the wrapper is called, offhand. Oh well...🙃) I know there’s chrysalis, but isn’t that when someone is inside, waiting and changing, not just the wrap? Hafta look it up. (Love my phonetoy!)
How wonderful, magical, and miraculous! They are so beautiful and the whole process is fascinating.
Be well little butterfly!
Gorgeous! This year we attempted to grow a number of Milkweed plants in anticipation of our own “flock” of Monarchs. As it turns out Milkweed is a challenge to grow! Luckily we planted many (some after encouraging seeds and some as young plants) so we have had some success but I suspect we have a few more years before we see lovely Monarchs.
I love butterflies!! This year at the San Diego Fair you could go into an enclosure and feed all sorts of butterflies! It was awesome!
A beautiful reminder to emerge from our own prisons and rest before we fly off to new things.
Every butterfly sighting this summer has been a treasure; sadly, it is because they are so few. We have two big butterfly bushes and last summer they teemed with butterflies, large and small and including the dramatic zebra swallowtails.
This summer I have seen 3 or 4 swallowtails...
Lovely.
Love this!
Beautiful butterfly, nature keeps on surviving ✨️
Thanks for your gift of this post. It is an alternative to violence. If each of us turned to another person in that spirit of appreciation for Creation maybe we could tame greed in half the population...