Just two days after I posted about the Monarch caterpillars in my butterfly garden the caterpillars are continuing to devour every leaf on several of my milkweed plants. One bite at a time, they chew up a leaf and move on to the next. In just a few days they have stripped some of the plants until there is nothing left but bare stems.
Yesterday morning I counted about 10 caterpillars. One had attached itself in the hose reel on the edge of the flower bed. It was preparing to transform into a chrysalis.
Monarch Caterpillar preparing to make chrysalis
A little while later I settled down in my chair under the arbor to read a book. I was facing the hose reel but was so engrossed in the book I didn’t look up for about 30 minutes. When I finally glanced over at the caterpillar I saw that while I was reading it had become a chrysalis.
Monarch chrysalis day 1
Today there are more caterpillars and less milkweed leaves. They will continue taking their bites until they are full grown and ready to transform into a chrysalis.
Meanwhile, there are still Monarch butterflies flying around in pairs doing their mating dance. I’ve had a hard time getting a picture but I managed to catch this one drinking nectar on a Mexican Sunflower.
Monarch butterfly feeding on Mexican Sunflower
I’ll be keeping my eye on the chrysalis and hope to see a butterfly emerge in about 7 to 10 days.
We are in the middle of the butterfly breeding season. I’ve seen pairs of Monarch butterflies flying around our yard recently and the females have been laying their eggs on milkweed leaves in my small backyard butterfly garden.
This morning I counted seven caterpillars on the milkweed including two different pairs munching on the leaves.
Pair of Monarch Caterpillars on MilkweedPair of monarch caterpillars on milkweed
After about two weeks of eating, the caterpillar will be full grown and will make it’s crysalis. Approximately 10 days later the monarch butterfly will emerge.
For the Day 8 Discover Prompt Michelle chose curve. I browsed through my photo archives to find these curves in bodies of water we have seen during our travels.
On the road to Inverness, ScotlandCreek through the Georgia Salt MarshFive Finger Rapids on the Yukon River.The New River in West VirginiaDead Horse Point State Park in Utah
This week Patti’s challenge is to show what Simplicity means to me.
“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” ― Laura Ingalls Wilder
After three weeks of social distancing I have really come to appreciate the simple things – a phone call with my brother who lives on the other side of the country, a video of one of our granddaughters, social distancing outside with neighbors, and enjoying the little things in nature.
Here are a few of the simple things that brought me joy this weekend.
Sunset over the salt marshMorning walkWildflower on the side of the roadMorning Sky at sunriseBlanketflower in the gardenFirst Monarch caterpillar of spring
This week Tina has chosen Distance as the theme for the Weekly Photo Challenge.
From Tina’s post:Bottom line; we are all in this together despite needing to avoid each other physically. Please share with us the creative ways you’ve found to address your need to connect while keeping your distance. Have you found interesting and productive ways to pass the time? Are you enjoying comics/funny stories or do you find the situation too serious for jokes? The Lens-Artists team hopes our weekly challenge brings at least a small opportunity to look away from the news for a bit to connect with the rest of us. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and seeing your Distance images – whether related to the COVID-19 crisis or not.
The photo at the top of the page was taken the morning of March 13, 2020, the same day President Trump declared a National Emergency because of COVID-19. It was the last day I was able to take a walk on the beach. I wasn’t the only one on the beach that morning but everyone was already practicing social distancing. Here’s two more photos from my walk that morning.
Last beach walk before Social Distancing began on March 13, 2020Last beach walk before Social Distancing began on March 13, 2020
Since that day, we’ve have been practicing social distancing. Except for my morning walks, my only outings are to the grocery store or to pick up a to go order to help support local restaurants. Sadly, the beaches were closed about 12 days ago. My morning walks are through the neighborhood now and that gives me a chance to say hello to neighbors I haven’t seen for a while as we practice social distancing by walking on opposite sides of the street.
Beaches and parking lots closed after State of Emergency in GeorgiaBeaches and parking lots closed after State of Emergency in Georgia
Some days I have a hard time concentrating because of what is happening but during this time I have been able to take care of a few tasks I have been neglecting for a while. I’ve also pulled a lot of weeds and planted sunflower and zinnia seeds. I’ve had plenty of time to sit in my garden and watch the bees and butterflies.
Monarch on Milkweed
I keep up with friends and family with phone calls, texting, social media and blogging. I’ve also learned a new skill – attending a Zoom meeting! Woo hoo!
Many, many thanks go out to all of the doctors, nurses, all hospital staff, first responders, farmers, truck drivers, grocery store workers, restaurant workers, teachers, volunteers who are making masks, distillers who are making hand sanitizer, manufacturers who are making ventilators and masks, volunteers feeding hospital workers and making meals available to kids who aren’t in school, all the parents who are at home with their kids now, neighbors who are helping out their neighbors. Thank you!
We are all in this together and I believe we will get through it and be stronger for it.
Wandering Dawgs 