A Bad News/Good News Day

            The day started badly when we realized that one of the two Black Swallowtail had been snatched and probably devoured. A migrating fall warbler, spotted briefly in the garden, or a Hermit Thrush are the likely suspects in the killing of the chrysalis that hung dangerously low to the ground. accessible to the insect hunters. All that remained was the silk sling that held the chrysalis to the stalk. 

            Near days' end, we saw that our second Monarch caterpillar, nicknamed "Frannie," had hatched. So small, she was barely visible to the naked eye as she rested near her empty egg casing. 

           The first born, "Laddie," is growing nicely and appears to be preparing for its first molt after a nice day feeding on top of its milkweed leaf (below).  

            Come back regularly for updates!