Happy Thursday! Can you believe how quickly October is flying by? We are seeing a little color, but we don’t usually see autumn at its finest until November.
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.”
Proverbs 21:2
I so enjoy seeing bees and butterflies in the garden. The pollinators are still at work! My Renaissance Man and I were excited to witness the return of the monarchs! They stayed around for several days last week, but it appears they have now headed toward Mexico, their winter home.
Three weeks ago, RM said he was ready to clean out the zinnias. They were still blooming, but they were leggy and their foliage had seen better days. I said let’s just wait, and I am so glad we did! We have decided the zinnias must stay until the first frost claims them! Our flying visitors will be appreciative.
A little over a week ago, these magnificent butterflies returned to the zinnia patch along the west side of our driveway. This small raised bed is not a part of our main garden. Butch caught the first glimpse of them and took photos with his iPhone. He came inside to tell me so I grabbed the camera and my iPhone to attempt to capture their beauty!
Our photos are a combination from phones and the Canon. You probably will be able to tell the difference. But more importantly, we did capture a few photos.
Monarch migration was underway and a few dropped by to check out our zinnias. It seemed to us that we spotted the first Monarchs a few days later in the month than in past years?? Maybe some of you see Monarchs in October and can give an opinion on what you have noticed!
Can you believe that some Monarchs travel as much as 3,000 miles on their journey southward for the winter. They can travel as much as fifty miles per day…amazing!
Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed. Last October, as well as last week, the butterflies seemed to love the zinnias’ nectar most of all, and stopped long enough for a “fill up” before continuing south!
Monarch numbers have decreased over the past 20 years according the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
RM captured a photo of two monarchs. The monarch at the bottom of the photo with wings outstretched is a female. The other is a male.
The monarchs that pass our way are considered the super generation. Mid August marks the start of fall migration for millions of monarch butterflies. Adult monarchs are partway through their lifecycle, but their reproduction is on hold…
…These monarchs are different from their parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents. Previous generations completed their life cycle in four weeks. Each of these previous generations migrated north, resulting in four generations over the course of the summer.
Butterflies in this last generation are members of the generation that migrates south, often called the monarch super generation. They live eight times longer than their parents and grandparents – up to eight months – and travel ten times farther.
How do you tell the difference between a male and female monarch? The male has the two highly visible black spots on the insect’s hind wings and thinner black webbing within the wings. The female’s webbing is thicker and she has no identifying wing spot. The spots are clearly visible on this male!
Bodacious dahlia and lantana are both located in the same raised bed as the zinnias. The monarchs never landed on either.
For more info, check out:
Save the monarch butterfly | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Thank you for your visits and gracious comments. Wishing you a lovely day!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Wonderful captures Pam! I always get a thrill when I see a Monarch. We saw some fluttering over the lake while boating last weekend. I always get concerned they’ll tire and drown and it’s hard to imagine they can make the long migration journey with those fragile wings. Happy Thursday ♥
Thanks so much Mary. Hope your weekend is going great!
How beautiful! I love butterflies and enjoyed all the information you shared about them. Your posts always inspire the gardener and life-long learner in me!
Thank you Stacy. I have so much to learn about gardening…I am definitely a life-long learner.
This was such a great read. I will share with my husband and children. We have had lots of monarchs here on Long Island. We have milkweed so they have plenty of food here and love our flowers. Isn’t it funny to think that the same butterflies I had in my garden may be visiting you know?
Ruthie, that is definitely a thought. The same butterflies that visit you could could by my garden!
Gorgeous pictures. Such an interesting read. My husband will truly enjoy this.
Thank you do much for sharing.
My pleasure, Judy. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Thank you Judy. I am so glad you enjoyed!
How interesting! I never knew the difference between male and female monarchs.
I enjoyed learning more about the monarchs!
This was so interesting, thank you so much for all the great information. Your pictures are beautiful. My zinnia plants look horrible, but I am getting huge blooms right now! And it seems overnight three huge Sasanqua camellias have burst into bloom!!
Roxanne, my Camelia is blooming also. Are you going to save your zinnia seeds?
Good morning, Pam. Such lovely photos. We had many monarchs this year and like your garden, they loved the zinnias. We have not seen any here for a few weeks. We always leave the zinnias until the frost takes them. As the little birds just love them. Happy day and weekend to you, my friend.❤
Sandra, monarchs apparently love the zinnia nectar! Happy Friday♥️
You really got some wonderful photos!
Thank you Penny!
How beautiful! I am currently reading Barbara Kingsolver’s book Flight Behavior, a fiction novel about monarchs losing their home grounds. It is full of great research on monarch migration.
Carole, the book sounds interesting!
So glad to have you back into my emails. I’ve been wondering what had been wrong with not receiving any for months. I finally got it fixed & figured out
Your back yard is a dream & have missed all the tables sittings.
Donna, welcome back. Enjoy your Friday!
Wow what a special treat that was! You both captured some amazing shots! I’ve noticed in my area that they are leaving milkweed plants uncut in areas that area normally cut back so hopefully other areas are doing that and we’ll see the population increase!
Thanks so much Liz. How wonderful they aren’t cutting the milkweed!
Amazing pictures!So happy!
Thank you, Maristella!
Beautiful butterflies perfectly captured! Great shots of God’s delicate creatures. Enjoy your day. Clara❤️🍁
Just a thought-Since your zinnias did so well from the last batch of seeds I hope you are able to save some of the seeds from the flower heads for next year since we all had such a challenging time trying to get zinnias this year. Maybe they were the super generation of zinnias that fed the super generation of monarchs. Glad you kept them for monarchs to enjoy. We usually leave ours for the finches at the end of the season but if we’re lucky enough to have them next year, I’ll be saving a few seeds to plant in the future as a backup. Great post! Clara ❤️🍁
Clara, I am going to save the zinnia seeds. Hopefully we will have better success with zinnias next year! Happy Friday ♥️
God’s fluttering creatures are amazing ♥️
You know I love this post. Sigh…. I wish they would travel through here. I have milkweed all waiting but I think this time of year they need nectar for strength to finish their trip.
Are you drying out your zinnias to save for seed? I have a friend that does this.
I just missed the migration in Texas by a week or so.
Bonnie, a friend of mine sent a photo of the monarchs at Point Clear. She said there were hundreds of them. They stop there every year before they make their journey over the Gulf
I think I see the black spots. Are these all the same monarch? They’re gorgeous — we saw them up north (I never got a look at the spots, though). The photos are just spectacular and I’m so thrilled they returned to your gorgeous garden. Let’s hear it for saving the zinnias!
No, these are different monarchs. They are amazing as they flutter around!
Pam, thank you so much for sharing the monarchs with us. You have captured some very beautiful images. I so enjoyed reading all about these lovely creatures, I know they must enjoy your gorgeous gardens. Happy Thursday, sweet friend!
Monarchs are beautiful and they are amazing to watch. Happy Friday, Shannon!
They are so stunning on the bright colored zinnias!! Beautiful!!
Jenna
I love watching them fluttering around!
Wow, this was so interesting! I had no idea modern-day monarchs live so long, nor did I know that they migrate to Mexico and can travel up to 50 miles per day! God is an awesome God, and His creation never ceases to amaze me. I’m glad you didn’t cut down your zinnias. They drew in the monarchs and taught us so much! God bless you and your family, sweet friend.
Thank you Cheryl. Isn’t God’s creation amazing?!!
Oh you are such an incredible capturer of beauty, Pam! What a way to kick off another golden autumn day!
I am glad you enjoyed, Linda!
Perfect photo and wonderful message. Monarchs arent’ the only ones that utilize spent flowers. Birds and critters will feast on the seeds, don’t clean out your gardens completely, leave something to feed the circle of life!
We still have some lovely flowers in our deck planter, but like your zinnia leaves, the foliage leaves a lot to be desired. I have to train my vision on the blooms and not the dead leaves! With you I want to leave them until the first hard frost. Loved learning about the monarchs, Pam. Another example of God’s awesome handiwork!
Yes, monarchs are wonderful to watch and realize God’s awesome handiwork!