About to turn

By jMcLean

Chasing Haley

Daughter I. called monarch butterflies "Haleys" when she was little, and the name stuck for us. We've had one fluttering around the garden and I haven't been able to get a shot despite trying for days...it's like she is going on a grand tour (weedy tour, really) instead of alighting and posing on the various offerings. Such a pleasure to watch, like a bit of feather-light stained glass. She, and it is a she, finally settled on this volunteer milkweed for a few seconds.

Later, heading out the front door, we realized there were two circling around each other! A wonderful sight.

The extra is a monarch caterpillar, another good surprise. In the past we've had quite a few swallowtail caterpillars in the garden, and they look very similar. But this is a monarch - milkweed is the only plant monarch caterpillars eat, whereas the swallowtails go for dill. I'll be keeping an eye out for a chrysalis soon!

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