The last of the Monarch Butterflies have flown away . . . a magical and seasonal ritual comes to an end . . . for me at least . . . until another year. Monarch migration is well under way with millions of Monarch butterflies on their way to Mexico.
Author: Carol Duke
Carol Duke is an artist and farmer who has worked with the land on a Western Massachusetts hillside for over thirty years. During this time her land has evolved into a diverse wildlife habitat. Carol features the flora and fauna that live and visit her farm on her website and blog http://caroldukeflowers.com As vital wildlife habitats are destroyed daily, Carol hopes to inspire others to garden for wildlife, while becoming activists for wild places the world over. Her nature photography has appeared in magazines, books and newspapers.
Monarch Butterfly Metamorphosis: Part Three ~ Emergence
This is the crowning moment of the Monarch Butterfly Metamorphosis. Seeing the butterfly pushing open its sheer chrysalis casing door and flipping out into the world whole and perfect is a joyous observation and one that causes one to pause and ponder at the marvels of our natural world. While we pause, the Monarch butterfly‘sover […]
Monarch Butterfly Metamorphosis: Part Two ~ Chrysalis
The Monarch Butterfly Metamorphosis continues with the jewel-like chrysalis that might be hanging under any twig or leaf in a field or garden where milkweed grows. Dreams about to become real.
Monarch Butterfly Metamorphosis: Part One ~ Changing Casings
The Monarch Butterfly‘s metamorphosis is a journey through clear casings beginning with an egg. A tiny caterpillar carves a hole in a clear intricately etched dome capsule and exits while entering the hairy leafy landscape of its host plant Milkweed. The teeny caterpillar then makes a meal of the nutritious casing and begins chewing its […]
Part Ten ‘A Bestiary’ ~ Virginia Opossum
The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a remarkable beast whose marsupial ancestors roamed amongst dinosaurs. If you would like to learn more about this shy creature and see more portraits please visit Native Plants & Wildlife Gardens. You can see all ten installments to my ‘Bestiary’ here. My Bestiary is a number of antidotal tales […]
Part Nine of ‘A Bestiary’ ~ North American Porcupine
My prickly tale about a North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is up over at a fabulous native plant and wildlife garden blog with just that name Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens If you click on the link above, it will take you directly to the ninth installment of my ‘A Bestiary’ where I share beastly […]
Black Swallowtail Butterfly Metamorphosis
A striking male Black Swallowtail . . . the first of its kind to emerge in my barn studio last year. I was lucky early May to see this female attaching an egg to a Bishop’s weed leaf along the garden path. She may well have overwintered here in her pupa state. After she flies […]
Glimpses of a Metamorphosis ~ Raising Monarch Butterflies ~ A Sneak Peek
July’s ending finds all of my Monarch chrysalis casings empty. The joy of raising and releasing Monarch Butterflies is not finished for this year, however, for the process begins anew . . . with more eggs and small caterpillars to care for. It has been a fabulous Monarch butterfly season here at Flower Hill Farm. […]