Busy Week!

3 Days - 11 Butterflies!

It is still pretty early and my milkweed is just rebounding from the early influx of eggs - but this week has been full of butterflies!

On Monday I posted about the two that eclosed while I was at work. Yesterday I came home to SEVEN! I was only expecting about 4 but there were a couple that I didn't realize were so close. Unfortunately for  my little guy, he was already winding down and getting ready for bed and there was limited daylight left - so I let them go on my own.

One guy had some pretty battered wings, but this one flew like a champ. He hung out for just a few minutes around the nectar plants and was one his way.

Today, we only had two, but little man was able to help me set them free - and that is really the best part of all of this. He is so gentle, and they cling to his little fingers and have to be urged to let go.

 

After fishing him out of the enclosure, little man let him go inside the butterfly garden, where he remains now, about an hour later, fluttering around from flower to flower, fighting the evening hummingbirds for nectar. 

I hope this guy (most of them in the last two days were boys - only two females in the batch!) hangs around long enough to find a lady, fall in love, and do what they need to do to replenish my caterpillar supply!

It seems that these guys enjoy the red nectar flowers more than the others. Don't ask me what it is because I do not remember - I just had seeds from last year and they grew like crazy!

The other one wasn't super keen on people and wouldn't get on little man's finger, so he graciously allowed his momma to get him out of there. He flew off into the cow pasture behind us - but hopefully he will stop back by to visit. 

We have one caterpillar left on the plant in the enclosure and I am expecting him to climb to the top in just a day or two. I will check back in when we have a couple more!