While I sat on our back steps shucking corn, I watched butterflies, bees, and moths feed on the nectar of our purple asters yesterday afternoon. On one cluster of Aster Amellus I spotted six Monarchs, 5 American Lady Butterflies, 4 Bumble Bees, 3 Honey Bees, 2 White Cabbage Moths and one Hoverfly (camouflaged to look like a bee with black and yellow stripes). At the insect dinner party, all the winged guests would drink deeply then switch to a new flower. In the musical blooms, I saw a pecking order that surprised me. Although the butterflies are larger, they wisely yield to the bees.
The Monarchs are refueling on their way to Mexico. There they will spend the winter until it is time to head north again. Last fall, I wrote an e-say™ about their travels, called Butterfly Rest Stop. They are miraculous creatures; delicate yet strong enough to fly on a month’s journey south.
I’ve read that Monarch butterfly populations are increasing in number once more. I’m happy to say I’ve seen 14 in our neighborhood and back yard in the last hour. I’m not the only insect observer in our household. Recently our 10-year-old budding naturalist asked to use my phone camera in the garden. See the photos below credited to “Eagle” for the results. As I finish this post, I’m watching the dance of the orange winged, black and white spotted flutterbys; furry bees; and pesky jitterbugging white cabbage moths feasting on flowers. Welcome winged wonders.
Gracias for reading Fake Flamenco! ¡Olé! –Rebecca
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Fake Flamenco 
Magical creatures! I hope it’s true that Monarch numbers are increasing. Kudos to you for providing a welcoming atmosphere for them!
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Yes, winged and bipedal migrants are welcome here. Here is an article about the monarch population this year. 🙂 R https://texasbutterflyranch.com/2019/01/30/migrating-monarch-butterfly-population-vaults-144-highest-in-12-years/
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Lovely photographs…butterflies are such amazing little creatures. This summer, in the Greek island of Khios, I visited a monastery and church called Agio Galas (Holy Milk) and there was a butterfly garden with so many varieties and colours. They are amazing! Thank you for your beautiful post!
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Gracias, Francisco. The garden on Khios sounds wonderful. Glad to hear you liked the post. Thanks : ) We saw 15 monarchs in our yard yesterday and 30 in a nearby park last week! -Rebecca
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Yer welcome Rebecca, that must have been a lovely sight indeed!
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Gorgeous photos! We’ve been seeing lots of monarchs, too. Bon Voyage!
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Thanks, Carolyn! Yes, buen viaje to our winged friends on their way to Mexico. -R
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awwww I am missing out! I wish I could see these photos!
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Sorry, I could try to make a poem about it: Sparks of paper thin flame,
dance and dine in the garden,
Long tongues take deep draughts,
of flower after purple flower’s nectar,
bright sun, buzz of bees, flutter calm,
café wildflower stop and vamos a México.
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