As We Wait for Bruno and Mr. Bean, Visitors!

     There is certainly something to be said for bringing your caterpillars into a protected environment, especially in this case where survival would not have been possible outdoors. Bruno (at top) is a couple days ahead of Mr. Bean, who had quite a lot of extra eating to do. We had about four milkweed leaves left by the time he finally vamoosed. But the wings are wonderfully clear though the delicate green shell in both. It's 11:18 PM on Wednesday and Bruno remains green, with no sign of the last day transparency that precedes eclosure, so our guess is Friday for Bruno and the weekend for Mr. Bean. 
        And yet we still have wondrous things going on in the garden, once the seven days of storms finally cleared. First, we had a beautiful male Monarch come fatten up for the continuing journey south west. 

         And two first sightings of the season for two species happened in just the past two days, first the Pipevine Swallowtail, and then the Red-Banded Hairstreak.

           As soon as we have an update on the chrysalises we will be back with a longer post. Until then, please stay safe and well.