Chasing Haley

Daughter I. called monarch butterflies "Haleys" when she was little, and the name stuck for us. We've had one fluttering around the garden and I haven't been able to get a shot despite trying for days...it's like she is going on a grand tour (weedy tour, really) instead of alighting and posing on the various offerings. Such a pleasure to watch, like a bit of feather-light stained glass. She, and it is a she, finally settled on this volunteer milkweed for a few seconds.

Later, heading out the front door, we realized there were two circling around each other! A wonderful sight.

The extra is a monarch caterpillar, another good surprise. In the past we've had quite a few swallowtail caterpillars in the garden, and they look very similar. But this is a monarch - milkweed is the only plant monarch caterpillars eat, whereas the swallowtails go for dill. I'll be keeping an eye out for a chrysalis soon!