Butterflies and caterpillars

I snapped the picture of this Queen caterpillar yesterday. Today it is a chrysalis.

Aren’t the colors beautiful? It really is much more beautiful than the Monarch caterpillar. The one below is at least 3” long. Should be heading for the top soon.

Here are  a Monarch and Queen caterpillar, side by side, about the same size….about an inch long…so they haven’t gotten their full color yet.

I’ve had several butterflies in the yard today…Monarchs, Giant Swallowtails, Yellow Sulphurs….none of them were posing for pictures.

This Gulf Fritillary on the Buddleia  plant cooperatered a bit.

     

There were 3 Queens flying around. I love their deep color.

  

I have 15 Queen caterpillars and 22 Monarch caterpillars  in the Butterfly House.  I think I only had 2 Queens in the 250 that were in there a few months ago.

I want to get a Dutchman’s Pipe vine plant and see if I can get Pipeline Swallowtails here too.

We’ve been traveling

Sorry that I haven't posted anything for awhile…but…we’ve been traveling.

To see my Dad, Jim’s daughter, granddaughter and great grandson in NY.

My 2 sons and 2 grandkids in VT.

Trail riding on horseback in Otter Creek, NY.   ( Thanks so much Tom and Regina for taking us camping with you and loaning me the use of Tom’s horse for a few days.)

Visited my sister in TN, along with her daughter and family.  One of the highlights was watching her grandson, Kevin, race his Motocross Motorcycle. He finished 3rd in one event and my sister called today and told me he had a 2nd last night. He is really doing great!

We returned home to a nicely mowed lawn …but  a lot of weed eating.

The camper is almost unpacked and will finish up tomorrow.

My Giant Milkweeds are growing like crazy. I found 3 Monarch caterpillars and 2 Queen caterpillars the first day home. The Butterfly House is back in action! I saw a female Monarch laying eggs on the plants outside so there will be more.

This is the Giant Milkweed on 5.26.11                 The one on the L is the same plant

             

It’s amazing how they come back.

These Queen caterpillars are on leaves that are the same size..about 5” long.  The one on the L is about 1 day old and the one on the R is at least 5 or 6 days old. It will be going to the top before long.

Home 2 days and I’ve already found 7 Queens and 18 Monarch caterpillars.

All  but one of my birdfeeders were empty. I left the “hot wire” unplugged when I filled the “Sky Café” before we left. It is normally good for a couple of months.  The squirrels couldn’t get to it but the raccoons must have.

So..that’s the update.  Hope to have something more interesting to add before long.