Monarch on Milkweed

The Milkweed is in bloom and happens to be the host plant to a couple of different insects. Pictured here is a Milkweed bug in red and black and a Monarch Butterfly caterpillar in stripes. Not much else will eat the milkweed plant. This is an important plant in the Monarch's life cycle, though. And, for this reason, it is a great native plant to add to a butterfly garden or any garden in Indiana. Milkweed does great in the sun, but will survive in partial shade too.    

Poor Butterfly

This butterfly was laying in the sand of the Indiana Dunes the other day---still alive but barely. I picked it up, brushed the sand off, and placed it on the leaf.

The body was curiously bent and the legs didn't seem to work very well, although it was able to hang onto the leaf. Perhaps it had recently emerged from its chrysalis and still had some unfolding to do?  

The Butterfly and the bee

Things are busy out in the fields and woods. Summer is running out of time. Butterflies have to fill up and leave. Bees have to fill their winter nests.

Sometimes you just have to share a flower like this Monarch and bee did the other day. The bee ended up chasing the butterfly away. The butterfly was clearly annoyed and disgruntled.

The Royalty of the Dunes

A break in the steamy weather yesterday meant a great day for a hike at the Indiana Dunes.

Monarch butterflies were flitting around all over and I searched the woods and found a caterpillar munching on milkweed.

I love this caterpillar; it reminds me of striped pajamas. When I walked up to take the photos the caterpillar raised its tail at me. I'm always respectful of my subjects and try not to disturb while photographing. He was just finishing up a leaf and kept on munching.