Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have been visiting the milkweed plant in my flower garden this month. When I bought the milkweed plant in late spring, I did not realize there were actually two varieties of milkweed in the two gallon pot. One has reddish stems with red and yellow flowers, and the other has green stems and orange flowers.
The monarch caterpillars seem to prefer the red stemmed variety, as I have observed them for several days now and they are always feeding on that variety. However, the female monarch butterfly was spotted laying her eggs on the both varieties. Here she deposits an egg on the underside of the leaf.
SouthernSass says
These are incredible shots!! I want to get some milkweed next year for my garden and hopefully will attract some Monarchs!
Jacqueline D'Elia says
They do love the milkweed. I was very surprised at the level of activity from one plant.
jo says
Envious of your subject matter.
Those butterflies are so beautiful.
What a wonderful series you made for us to see.
Jacqueline D'Elia says
Glad you enjoyed the post. They are pretty aren’t they?
Liz says
How wonderful to still have butterflies – and healthy looking plants around!
Lovely photos, it’s a shame the Monarch is a very rare visitor to the UK, I’d love to see the masses as they migrate through.
Jacqueline D'Elia says
Fall in Houston has lovely weather and the flowers actually bloom more now than in the summer.
Sue says
So enjoyed your post and amazing photos on the Monarchs. Nice of them to visit on their way to Mexico. I planted Autum Joy and they love that as well as the milkweed. We are so lucky to be in the Monarch Migration Path here in Texas.
Always nice to find another Texas Blogger and one with such wonderful Photos and Photography information. I’ll definately be back!
Jacqueline D'Elia says
Welcome fellow Texan and thank you for visiting.
dutchbaby says
Fantastic images. I’m impressed how you captured the female depositing her egg on the leaf. I also like seeing the larva of the Monarch; hard to tell which is the front with the decoy antennae in the rear.
Jacqueline D'Elia says
I was so fortunate to have been there just at the right time.
Kala says
All of these images have excellent details. That butterfly is so lovely! Thanks for sharing.
Jacqueline D'Elia says
I must have shot about 100 images and selected 10 of the best ones. 🙂
Charlene says
You have a great collection here. Thanks for posting these lovely images!
Jacqueline D'Elia says
I enjoyed posting it.
bekkah says
Incredible images…a wonderful post!
Jacqueline D'Elia says
The Monarchs have such a great combination of color and contrast.
Donna says
Beautiful Monarch shots, in all stages of development.
Jacqueline D'Elia says
Thank you. I can’t believe how small those eggs are.
p3chandan says
Great shots of the Monarch in your garden! Ive just seen the Great Migration on NatGeo abt them, they mate, lay their eggs on milkweeds then migrate all the way to Canada from Mexico (3 generations) then back again to Mexico by the 4th generation of Monarch…they are an amazing creatures!
Jacqueline D'Elia says
Thank you. It was fun photographing them. I just checked on the caterpillars today and they’re getting bigger.
Ginny says
I planted milkweed for the first time this summer, but it was a tiny seedling and didn’t bloom before it got too cold. I’m hoping for lots of blooms and Monarchs next season. I did have Monarchs stop as they were migrating through last month.
Beautiful photos of the milkweed and the Monarchs!
Jacqueline D'Elia says
I left mine in the pot too longer and did not get around to planting it until the end of August. It grew rapidly from there and has been blooming for about 6 weeks now. The caterpillars are munching away.
Stephanie Suesan Smith says
I love your photographs. I have a friend in Houston who was buying milkweed last winter for her caterpillars. I teased her because my pasture is full of it and all the ranchers try to get rid of it. I didn’t see but one monarch here this year, though.
Jacqueline D'Elia says
That is funny. We still have Monarch’s visiting this week in Houston. My milkweed is blooming. 🙂