Monarchs are back!
They are showing up in pretty good numbers, also. Concerns about the status of the monarch are well founded, but they are having a really good year this year.
The other late season butterflies are having a terrible year–probably knocked out by the very heavy rains we have had. Last year there was not a monarch to be found. This year, they outnumber the other butterflies at least ten to one. But the other butterflies are few and far between.
I did find this battered and beaten great spangled fritillary.
I’m feeling a little battered and beaten myself lately.
The roused bear 