Spring

Yesterday afternoon, it was sunny enough that the butterflies came out. I captured a picture of an Anise Swallowtail laying eggs in my fennel. And a Cabbage White was in the nasturtium; I think it was sunning, not laying.

Yesterday morning I noticed a neighbor out gardening. I complimented her on her beautiful purple lupine. Turns out that that species is a host plant for the Mission Blue. So we started talking about butterflies and she told me about a Monarch hovering around her Family Jewels. I went over to take a look at the plant, and sure enough, it had eggs on it. She said I was welcome to take specimens, especially since she had stumped it back and there was not likely to have enough foliage for all the caterpillars. Yay! Now Andy won't have to drive all over the bay area to get Monarchs for our presentations!

(host plant)