Three female and one male monarch emerged in the butterfly house this weekend. They really enjoyed the salvia, marigold and lantana nectar when released. We are nearing 360 monarch butterflies total since we took on this amazing hobby of raising butterflies.
At the right place, at the right time again, and this time I had my camera, BONUS! This female monarch butterfly emerged with such a perfection it was mesmerizing to watch, even if I have seen it hundreds of times before.
I really enjoyed watching this female elongate her proboscis once I placed her on a red penta. As I have stated before, the proboscis acts as the butterfly’s straw. The strong muscles in the butterfly’s head will stretch its first part of the esophagus to sip the nectar from the flower.
When the butterfly first emerges, the proboscis is in two parts. The butterfly will coil, and uncoil after it emerges until it fuses together.
Did you know there are muscles, nerves, and air tubes the length of the proboscis? When blood is forced into the proboscis it extends and the muscles help the butterfly move it when feeding. Tiny sensory pegs on the outside of the proboscis, one near the tip, both find and taste the nectar.
It’s the simple things. The simple things that become the highlight of the day.
I have fallen in love with zinnia flowers, for the pure, simple beauty they add to the garden. I began planting them from seed and am having huge success. They are popping up everywhere all over the garden on a variety of colors. Some are in the ground, some on pots creating different heights.
The “simple” pure joy comes from watching the monarch butterflies stopping for a sip of the nectar. There’s truly nothing more gratifying than planting a seed, watching it sprout, grow and eventually create a bud that turns into a magnificent flower that is a food source for the butterflies.
When I took a peak into the butterfly house this morning, one of the monarch caterpillars had already begun its chrysalis. This never gets old! I absolutely love the “dance” at the end. I did not have my camera handy, just the phone this time, but another capture of the magnificent transformation, nonetheless.