mama monarch butterfly?
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_dbbb4d28a13d42378006454897cc412e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/1eb7ff_dbbb4d28a13d42378006454897cc412e~mv2.jpg)
There is a beautiful monarch butterfly that often visits the patio and front yard.
Here she is feeding on nectar in a California Delta sunflower.
I took these photos the same day that we released a female monarch butterfly that we monitored for a couple of weeks from caterpillar through chrysalis phase until she emerged from the chrysalis.
And now that we discovered 3 more monarch caterpillars on the Narrow Leaf Milkweed, I suspect that this is their mama.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_1828d31657d74cfb88a9e3cc8c5ae106~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/1eb7ff_1828d31657d74cfb88a9e3cc8c5ae106~mv2.jpg)
Isn't she lovely...