Monarch butterfly migration at the NC beach

[mnhtnbb]

We saw a few Monarchs when we arrived on Sunday...but they're all over the yard here today! I first tried getting
some shots from the deck because the bushes are probably 10-12 feet high. But I wasn't satisfied, so i went down
in the yard. All these shots were taken over my head--anywhere from a foot or two to at least four or five.

We have a beautiful Carolina blue sky today..and this guy was willing to pose, somewhat shyly.


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These two were doing what they need to do...it takes four generations of Monarchs to make the round trip migration.

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This one was definitely feeding on the flowers

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And this was the best shot I could get of open wings.

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[alfredo]

1. Nice images. One reason the Monarch has survived is because they taste horrible.

The Viceroy butterfly figured that out and they evolved to look like the Monarch.

[mnhtnbb]

3. Ha! Some of these were so small I thought they might be viceroys...

but the open wing shot identifies it as a Monarch.


Monarch




Viceroy




And flight is apparently different, too.


https://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/Viceroy1.html

[alfredo]

6. The Viceroy is our state butterfly. *Kentucky*

[Adsos Letter]

2. What beautiful creatures.

I planted a purple butterfly bush in our front yard this year, and it really does attract them. Thinking I'll put in a white one next spring.

[mnhtnbb]

4. I put in three butterfly bushes this year, but it's going to take them years to get bigger!

[Adsos Letter]

5. You may be surprised.

They may grow faster than you think. They are fairly rapid growers out here, but they like water so I have to limit where I use them in the yard. Out here they are considered something of an invasive pest because they spread their seeds so broadly and easily. I try to keep the flowers trimmed once they start to die to cut down on the seeding. Plus, it increases their blooming.

[Adsos Letter]

7. This is my purple one.

Going to order a white one in the spring.

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[mnhtnbb]

8. Who do you order from?

I got one like that at Lowe's in September to replace an azalea that didn't make it through the summer. That spot just
has too much sun for azaleas in summer--even with all our trees--so I hope this butterfly bush makes it. It's the third
plant in that spot in 4 years.

I ordered two butterfly bushes with a border garden I got from High Country Gardens and planted them last spring.
They seem to be doing ok.

[Adsos Letter]

9. We use a local nursery.

I go there because the owner carries really nice quality plants, and is very knowledgeable. Doesn't mean I haven't murdered a few of his plants, though.

I think they get a lot of their plants from Monrovia Growers, which is one of the wholesalers on the West Coast.

We don't get much humidity. The Butterfly Bush is planted in full sun (and it hit 106* a few times this summer) and seems to be thriving, but it does want regular water. I have that whole bed on drip, which I run every third day, but during heavy heat I will check it daily, and give it a drink.

I have azaleas and rhododendrons, too, but the rhodies only get partial sun and the azaleas are planted in the shade of some Japanese wisteria, so they only get filtered sun.

I know I've mentioned it before, but I just can't believe how incredibly beautiful your side of the country can be.

[mnhtnbb]

10. Spring is my favorite season here.

Dogwood, cherry blossoms, azaleas, Bradford pears, daffodils, tulips--if the deer/squirrels don't get the bulbs--redbud, wild
lilac, iris...!

I took these photos a couple of years ago in the spring around the house we built after the fire.
New landscaping in the first photo...and lots of old azaleas in the second photo in an area of the yard
that wasn't destroyed fighting the fire or clearing to put up the new house.

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[Adsos Letter]

11. Oh, that is gorgeous!

Absolutely gorgeous.

[mnhtnbb]

12. Thanks!

My husband LOVES azaleas (his family is from Georgia) and although there were some azaleas on the hill
by the driveway when we bought the house in 2000, he insisted on planting the two rows of azaleas
in 2002 on either side of the gravel path after we built the detached garage with studio apartment over it (which didn't burn when
the original house burned). Ten years later (2013 when I took these photos) it's really pretty in
the spring.

This is a view of the walkway to the studio apartment, too, which I always use when advertising the apartment
for rent on craigslist!

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