2012 sighting in N.E. Alabama

[rbtbob]

First monarch sighted in yard today. She was flying low and looking to lay eggs,but missed all of mine!!

[Mona Miller]

Perhaps she will turn around and leave some eggs later. What species of milkweed do you have?

[rbtbob]

I have a lot of tropical that I over-wintered in my small greenhouse, along with some common in containers and some just coming up in the ground (both native and planted) and a few swamp that I planted in my bog garden last year.

[Mona Miller]

Wow! I wonder why she didn't stop. Was she fresh looking or faded?

[rbtbob]

She looked pretty fresh, I think it was just bad luck for both of us, it was pretty windy , she went through the front yard and all my milkweed was in the back. Hoping for better luck tomorrow ! Got eaten out of house and home last year.

[Mona Miller]

It takes 5 days usually before they mature enough to mate. I've seen older males mating with younger females. The males don't give them a choice.

[rbtbob]

Today a faded female showed up and spent some time with the milkweed in my yard. Only two days earlier than last year!!