# 10

I had the privilege of releasing four more monarch butterflies from my nursery this morning, two females and two males.  This was the first of the two males being released.  He was quite content to ride around the garden on my hand and I eventually left him in a safe spot on the buddleia bush around 11:20 this morning.  You can identify him as a male by the two dark "scent" spots on his hind-wing. 

Each release today was for someone who has passed from the earthly world.  In no particular order, here are today's dedications:
For Polly Dog Martin, beloved companion of BezziePet and Midgehole Dave 
For Dolly, the long-time companion of HeidiandDolly
For KangaZu's father who left this world in 2001 - this is the butterfly featured in today's blip.
For SimpleMoment's dear daddy

Please let me know if you want me to dedicate a release to someone.

Some fun-facts about this butterfly.  This male will, hopefully, make his way to Mexico to Reserva de Biosfera de la Mariposa Monarca, about 100 km northwest of Mexico City. He is part of what is known as the Methusalah Generation, the longest lived of all monarchs.  He will overwinter in Mexico, breed, then fly north.  He'll probably end up somewhere in the southwest US where he will breed again.  At that point, he will die, his enormous job having been completed.  His progeny will grow into butterflies and complete the second part of the migration, ending up in the northern US.  The Monarch migration is one of the most complex and fascinating migrations in all the Animal Kingdom as it takes 3 to 4 generations to complete a single round trip migration.  It humbles me.


In other news, the garden is alive with hummingbirds and butterflies right now.  Monarchs are passing through daily and there are large numbers of Tiger Swallowtails as well as a few Giant Swallowtails.  I think this may be my second favorite time of year (spring always gets first place in my book).  If you'd like to get a daily hummingbird fix, you can see a young male, Flying on Flickr.


Thank you for all the love on yesterday's hummingbird.  And thank you, as always for stopping by.


xo
Debbi