Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus,
Chip Taylor at Monarch Watch promotes planting Milkweeds as a way to help save the Monarchs. This afternoon I had a chance to observe first hand why he suggests that.
I watched this butterfly in the middle of a large field filled with scores of different plants in full bloom. But this Monarch didn’t seem interested in stopping to feed. It was moving fast as it kept circling hundreds of feet around me. I noticed it kept coming back to the same spot. When I went to inspect I found this inconspicuous plant, a Tall Green Milkweed (Asclepias hirtella). It would go down near the base of the plant bounce up and down. Was it laying eggs?
Finally at the end it few up and perched backlit on top of the plant for a second and then flew off.
I suggest buying some milkweeds for your garden.