Bella and the butterfly

This has been the summer of butterflies.  Bella and I have released 10 Monarchs into our garden this summer.

This is one of the young men we released.  You can tell it's a male because of the fat spots on the lower wing veins. This one is of the generation which will travel to Mexico.

Bella and the butterfly.  We had a couple young ladies spend the night on our phlox.

One of the young ladies on Mommy's finger.  This one wasn't quite ready to take off.  When they are ready to go they are ready.  How they know how to make it cross-country and end up with their cousins in Mexico is a miracle.
How they transform from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly is a miracle!

Bella wants me to include a link to Monarch Watch.  Monarchs as a species are in dire need of human help.  Their habitat is endangered, the caterpillars' only food, the milkweed has been drastically reduced and nectar plants are rarer and harder for them to find on their way to overwinter in Mexico.
Find out more information here:http://www.monarchwatch.org/
Bella says "All you puppies out there, ask your people to help the Monarchs.
http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/