Monarchs coming out in the rain

 While we were away in Australia the monarch butterflies had a field day on the swan plants. 

We had dozens of caterpillars, and over the next few days most of them headed off to hang in a loop and moult, changing from larva to pupa. We found them in chrysalis form all over the place: under poppy leaves, on the blueberry and blackcurrant bushes, on sticks, under the picnic table (that must have been an epic journey across long grass).

This one is almost ready to emerge.

Today, in the rain, a lot of them have popped out. This one is hanging off the pupal skin while it pumps up its wings.

We moved the umbrella over to give them a bit of dryish air. Under here are six butterflies that popped out this morning and a couple of chrysalis that look like they're going to pop any moment. A bumper crop of flutterbys!

Hope the next batch of swan plants leafs up fast.