It was the second summer that we enjoyed the visiting Monarchs. Although we did not see them travel to our strategically planted milkweeds, they seemed to frequent the Shasta daisies in the front of the house.
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| Monarch on Shasta daisy relief print - A combination of two relief blocks. Black Ranger ink on tan 300 series Strathmore paper. |
The daily fly-by routine seemed to include a cruise through the large maple tree, followed by a loop through the highest branches of the apple tree, and a gradual spiral downward, landing on a platform-like Shasta blossom. The daisy visit might last as long as 7 to 8 minutes, before the departure flight took the visitor back into the apple tree once again.
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| Monarch on Shasta daisy relief print - A combination of two relief blocks. Black Ranger ink and FW acrylic inks on 400 series Strathmore mixed media paper. |
Every couple of days I would go to the back yard and check the milkweeds for signs of dining Monarchs or the establishment of an egg-nursery. Much to my dismay, neither was apparent the entire second summer of the milkweed stand despite the daily front-yard fly-bys and landing.
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| Monarch on dried dandilion head with airborne seeds relief print - A combination of two relief blocks. Black Ranger ink on tan 300 series Strathmore paper. |
The last two summers, the milkweed garden has continued to expand and the plants have grown tall and sturdy. We have continued to enjoy daily visits by both Monarch butterflies and Tigerswallowtails. Both seem to like the apple tree air-space and the Shasta daisies. Perhaps next summer will be the one in which any butterflies make use of some of the milkweeds. I enjoy the plants and look forward to the formation of the seed pods, but am anxious to see a Monarch or two in this part of our yard!
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