Monarch laying eggs on plants

[texas butterfly]

In Northeast Houston area, saw a couple of Monarchs in a 1 mile area laying eggs. One was at a garden center and was laying on their milkweed plants. Near by, on a vine (?), 3 Gulf Frittilary (2 inch long) cats were happily chewing down on their vines. Kinda neat that the garden center doesn't put pesticides to kill cats that are eating plants that they are selling.
We've been in drought conditions for a while and finally had some showers.

Don't know if I'll have time this week to harvest eggs. If I see large cats, I'll have to grab them though.

I've released about 25 Monarchs within the last couple weeks. Have 3 more butterflies nearly ready to release. One still left in PUPA.

Also had released about a dozen Queen butterflies and 5 Black Swallowtails.

The nurseries seem to be getting their fall plants in so bought some more host plants for swallowtails and Giant swallowtail. Hopefully I'll see some more of these this year.

My milkweed that I cut for the catepillars was stuck in water and now after what seems 2 weeks it is starting to grow roots and leaves again. I'll have to get some pots with dirt setup so I can get these cutting growing again.

My milkweed from seed is sprouted and has lots of little leaves, but is only an inch tall. So, I can see and think that read someone that it is much slower to get milkweed from seed than it is from plants cuttings.

[Mona Miller]

http://botany.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/imaxxasc.htm
There are several vining milkweeds in Texas. Cynanchum, Matelea, Sarcostemma are a few suggestions.

Tropical milkweed does grow faster from cutting than from seeds.

[texas butterfly]

Looks like here I go again for another batch of butterflies.
This will be my second batch of monarchs. I have lots more milkweed now.

Now, I've brought in 2 more cats a little more than an inch long.

Saw several eggs being laid this morning but didn't get chance to bring in eggs.

Okay I've been bitten by the butterfly bug. This is really fun stuff.

[Mona Miller]

First a few eggs and caterpillars, then tagging, then each year it increases until you grow hundreds of butterflies. Then, moths, too. Yes, definitely a bug problem.