My milkweed plants have been growing like crazy since it's warmed up. These are the milkweed plants I documented growing from seed last year. We've seen several eggs laid by Monarch butterflies as they pass through and at least two have survived the predator wasps and made it to full size caterpillars. I always search the trees for those who have wondered off to undergo the miraculous transformation known as metamorphosis and thankfully sometimes find them. Here's one I found attached to the side of our house. I'll take pictures every other day and add the pics here until the butterfly emerges.
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| Monarch Caterpillar Day 1 of "the change" |
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| Day 3 Chrysalis |
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| Monarch Metamorphosis Day 5 |
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| Days 7 and 8 - Starting to see some color on the chrysalis. |
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| Day 11: What a difference 3 days makes! It will be very soon. |
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| And it's out. Just an hour or so after I took the photo before this one. |
This post will be ongoing until the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis.
