This morning I spotted a male monarch butterfly that has seen better days, as the wings are tattered. The mexican sunflower made a perfect resting place due to the size of the flower.

After admiring this beauty, I spotted new life everywhere I turned in the butterfly garden.

I spotted six newly emerged monarch butterflies on the house and in plants. And, well the caterpillars are still on plants in every instar.

For many years I raised them inside a butterfly house my husband hand built. It was an amazing project as it showed my family the lifecycle from egg to butterfly. This year I have decided to let that same lifecycle unfold in nature. Let me share, this is far more rewarding because when you spot a newly emerged butterfly, you know they have beat the odds of natural predators.

I began planting my garden at our new place almost six years ago, which is my second butterfly garden. Many of those initial plants have matured into great height and width creating tucked away places for caterpillars to create their chrysalis out of harms way.

Although not all of them seek out that route, as the trim on my house continues to be a destination. 

I have found that you have to inspect every branch and leaf before trimming a butterfly garden, especially this time of year.

My garden has never been manicured, as I let it grow naturally. During the Florida summer months when we get good rain, everything grows in the way, blocking some of my walking paths. So, periodically I trim the vegetation back so I can follow my paths.

Well, part of the walking path you had to duck under a sweet almond bush branch, as a sole monarch chrysalis was hanging in all its glory.

Today the monarch butterfly emerged!

The duo below emerged yesterday in my fire bush. Their green chrysalsis were greatly camouflaged among the leaves.