This monarch caterpillar arrived today on the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring. 2016

Today is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring. When bringing in the Sunday newspaper I noticed a gift near the front door.   There it was, as they are each year near the front door on the Indian Limestone wall or driftwood.  The caterpillar of a monarch butterfly.

Patti was concerned.  She’s often concerned when it comes to living creatures.  There were four other caterpillars and all the leaves of the one milkweed plant had been eaten.  They needed more food.

Off I went to Walmart.  Walmart had snapdragons and parsley both of which caterpillars like, but they didn’t have any milkweed plants, the preferred food for monarch caterpillars.  Off I went again, this time to Home Depot.  Luck was on my side.  Home Depot had at least a dozen milkweed plants. I bought six.

Caterpillar (Monarch) on Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)

Within a half hour of planting the Milkweed the caterpillars had gathered for brunch. Patti was happy, I was happy and the monarch caterpillars were happy, or as best I could tell.