Flower Friday ...

... Monarch butterflies.

We had four, yes four, monarch butterflies emerge today.  First was two females in the same enclosure and then later there were two males in a different enclosure.  As we had only released three monarchs before today that means we released more today than in the days prior! 

We released them all with God Speed and good wishes that they will all make it to Mexico as the monarchs that emerge now will be migrating south.  I took it upon myself to release the male in the upper right picture in honor of the much loved Finlay ... madwill's lovely dog.  I hope that's okay, M.  ♥

I know all these butterflies look the same but if you look at their wing patterns you can see subtle differences.  And the males have thinner veins and spots on the top surface of their hindwing.