I found this caterpillar in our garden on Friday July 8. On Sunday I moved it to another Narrow Leaf milkweed plant that is larger than the one on which it hatched, because the original plant was too small and running out of leaves to eat. The Monarch female typically lays only one egg per plant and milkweed… Continue reading Danaus plexippus Larva: Eating Machine
Going Native: First Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
I saw a Monarch butterfly for the first time in my garden after planting Narrow Leaf Milkweed along with native sage plants (back in March). Today I saw a Monarch caterpillar munching on one of the milkweed plants. I was not expecting or even hoping to see either this first season for the plants.
Red / Cobwebby Thistle
Red, or Cobwebby Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. occidentale) is a wild plant that is endemic to California. I came across this plant while hiking in late May on Albertson Fire Road between the Lang Ranch trail head and China Flat in Cheseboro.