Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Contented Cat, Monarch Chrysalis and a Rose

I couldn't resist taking a photo of Kim last night - she seemed to be so content.  I also went out to try and capture a photo showing the gold line around the chrysalis but it didn't show up very well.  While I was at it I snapped one of our roses.  This bush is usually covered for a large part of the year but we have had a period with no flowers so it is good to see it blooming once again.



Out watering at 7 a.m. this morning while the Personal Cares lady was helping my hubby.  Right now it is 31degrees C in the porch outside the front door.  I walked up to the village as I had several errands along the way.  No wonder I felt exhausted on my return.

I think there are seven chrysalises - all except one are hanging from the leaves of the orchids under the swan plant.  I haven't managed to see any of the caterpillars in the process of changing to a chrysalis so the odds of seeing a butterfly emerge are not good.

A couple of houses along from us is a row of seven swan plants but there are no caterpillars - it appears the wasps are eating them as soon as they emerge - I had thought of transferring some caterpillars there if we ran out of food but have changed my mind!!!!

10 comments:

  1. You could always take them indoors. At least then they would emerge unharmed.

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  2. Cro's suggestion is great, we could get to see some pictures of the emerging.
    Hope all's well for you and hubby.
    Briony
    x

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  3. My nine year old granddaughter bought some kind of nature kit and watched all the processes of the caterpillar to the butterfly in her bedroom. They did fine indoors.

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    1. The kit sounds a good idea. All I can think of is a mesh food cover but it isn't really large enough.

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  4. Sue, your rose is beautiful. I love the colour. I can't imagine what 31 degrees heat is like but it must be quite nice. Saying that, our weather has been quite mild today, though it's supposed to get colder again towards the weekend,

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  5. Yes, it is a lovely rose and, as I said, has previously flowered continuously for most of the year. it is just outside our bedroom. 31 degrees C is 88 F and a bit too hot for me. Glad you have had some milder weather. We haven't really had a summer here.

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  6. The camera seems to be trying to focus on anything but the chrysalis!

    Cats seem to be perfectly relaxed in the strangest of positions

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    1. I must try again to pick up the gold markings on the chrysalis.

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  7. I am wondering if bridal veil fabric would keep them safe from the wasps.

    Beautiful rose!

    Don't you wish you could be as flexible as the cat?

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    1. Yes, I think I have some netting somewhere but, touch wood, we haven't had any wasps attacking ours. I may bring more inside after the first one emerges.

      Yes, I wish I was flexible - I have just been to an exercise class and realise how inflexible i am. Hope you are feeling a bit better.

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