Sorry, no pics :(
I was just out trimming some of the butterfly bushes (I usually save that for Feb, but want to avoid the neighborhood yard nazi this year). My blooms are mostly gone, due to my lack of consistent deadheading this summer, but the Black Knight still has some purple flowers defying our recent light frosts.
A shimmer of orange caught the corner of my eye, and I saw a monarch heading straight for one of the remaining blooms looking for lunch.
I backed away to give him/her free range, and stood for five minutes enjoying the beauty as he explored every inch of that long purple flower, making sure he got every ounce of nectar he could reach.
That might be the first monarch I've seen this year.
