Excellent. The widespread use of glysophates in agribusiness has taken us almost back to the Silent Spring scenario predicted by Rachael Carson back in 60s. Anything you can do to assist pollinators is a bonus.

Keep up the great work.
Best
Les

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Wow, that was fast!

The earlier photos 8:18 AM today. This new one was taken at 1:25 PM, so just a little over 5 hours later and the caterpillar now is a chrysalis! Amazing transformation in just a few hours. That gate is just a few yards from my spot in the garage for the El Camino. I was pulling in to park, and noticed the transformation. I figured it would be overnight to change.

They started showing up around here a day or two ago. They REALLY like the Mexican Sunflowers. I assume the adults are just feeding on the Sunflowers and they'll go out into the field and lay their eggs on the Milkweed plants.

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This is the left side of the gate that is for vehicles to access the back yard. All of these are Fritillary Butterfly cocoons. There are several more along that fence. Last night there was on of the caterpillars on the back porch looking for a place to connect to. I moved him to the fence close to thee photo above. They are all over the back yard fences.

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We have butterfly puppies! This one was emerging this morning. Lots more to come out of their cocoons, and we counted 18 of them hanging and in various stages of metamorphosis.

The real Monarch invasion will start very soon. We have one bush-tree called a "Seven Son Temple of Bloom." I did not name it! It is about to pop out with a zillion flowers that the adult monarchs love. The bees like it as well.

And yea, I had to ask my master gardener wife what it was called.