Monarchs - finally

[Johnsfolly]

We have a couple of areas in our yard that we plant for pollinators. This year we have had a bonanza on common milkweed. These plants have been keeping hundreds of bees happy throughout the summer. What we haven't been seeing were many monarch butterflies and no caterpillars during the summer. This last week we saw our first caterpillar and yesterday we found over ten caterpillars. They ranged from less than a centimeter to almost ready to pupate. Every year my daughter will collect several caterpillars and rear them and release the adults. Not sure that she will do that this year. These guys seem to be bit late. Hopefully we don't get a cold snap before they mature and can migrate this fall.

[Johnsfolly]

Some photos of the caterpillars.