The Joys of Autum

It's past time for the Monarch Migration through Texas, but this Prince of Butterfly's must have gotten a late start on the Annual Monarch Migration Trip to Mexico.

The Monarch Butterfly heads South for the Winter on what is an amazing journey from Canada to Mexico. 

With Texas being right in the middle of the route to Mexico, Texans gear up every year by creating Habitats for the Monarchs.

Butterfly gardens are easy to plant, and you can design one that gives monarchs a habitat throughout their breeding cycle. As with all butterflies, you should grow plants that will host the eggs and feed the larvae ("caterpillar plants") and/or Provide nectar to adult butterflies ("nectar plants").

Usually Monarchs feast on their favorite blooms of Autum Joy.  The bees like it too. 

Milkweed is the monarch's larval plant. It is the host for egg-laying and the food for the larvae. Here are a few milkweed species you may be able to plant in your region:

• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
• Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
• Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Photographing Butterflies is one of the 'Joys of Autum', and I look forward to the Monarchs visit to Texas on their way to Mexico.



I'm not sure that these photos are actual Monarchs or another variety.  No matter, if they are still enough and allow me to get this close for a zoom shot...they are Royal enough!