It's a Queen butterfly, Danaus gilippus, another butterfly that lays eggs on Milkweed. I've seen them before, but I think this is the first time I've been able to photograph one.
We're expecting a freeze tomorrow night so of course I'm worried about them, and also the chrysalis on the fence that I posted about last week. I've put some bamboo poles in the ground around the Milkweed plant and will throw a blanket over them tomorrow. Hopefully that will provide enough protection from frost so the caterpillars don't all die.
But I think other than that, I'll have to let Mother Nature take its course.
Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.
2 comments:
When we were in Big Bend National Park back in November, Queens were everywhere. I was really surprised to see so many of them there. But, you know, I haven't seen a single one in my garden this fall. Very unusual. I almost always have a few, but not this year. Congratulations on yours.
Thanks Dorothy. I'm glad I was able to snap a photo. I'm thinking it probably didn't fare too well in the freezes we've had the last couple of nights.
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