I love seeing butterflies dipping and darting through my garden. Swallowtails are here, and Monarchs are just beginning their autumn migration. Drew Fagan photographed an Anise Swallowtail and a Monarch on his lavender patch.
I can almost smell the wonderful lavender.
Thanks to Drew for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see Drew's artwork, here is the link to his website: www.drewfagan.com
Tom Eckles saw the first Monarch Butterflies in his garden in Gualala.
The fall migration is just beginning. Journey North is a citizen science project where you can report your own sightings of Monarchs and other creatures. Here is their website: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
Thanks to Tom for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Tom's photography, here is his website: www.tomeckles.com
Beautiful Monarch Butterflies have been seen, feeding on various flowering plants. Paul Brewer photographed one feeding on escolonia.
These Monarchs are part of the Methuselah generation that will live for seven months or so, migrating down to Baja California.
Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/
A visit from Monarch Butterflies is always a treat. Tom Eckles had two chasing each other around his garden in Gualala.
Here is a photo Tom took last year of a Monarch on a Dahlia blossom.
The fall migration of Monarchs doesn't begin until next month. But we always welcome a visit from these exquisite creatures. Journey North tracks the migration of Monarch Butterflies, along with Gray Whales and various other migratory events. Their website is: https://www.learner.org/jnorth/
Thanks to Tom for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Tom's photography, here is his website: www.tomeckles.com
It's always a special moment when we see Monarch Butterflies appear. This is the long-lived generation, the Methuselah generation. They have migrated many miles and the females will soon migrate inland to lay their eggs on native milkweed. Here on the Coast, where milkweed isn't native, these beautiful butterflies are feeding on other native plants, such as Manzanitas.
Nancy Scarola noticed one in her Sea Ranch garden last week and her husband, Robert, photographed it. Notice its tattered wings from the many miles it has traveled.
I saw one in my garden today - my first one of the year. Journey North tracks these butterflies. If you would like to participate in this citizen science project, or just see the sightings that other people have posted, here is their link: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/Maps.html You will see they track many other migrations, including Gray Whales.
Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photo with you here.