My patch of narrowleaf milkweed often attracts monarch butterflies in the springtime. This year was abundant! The photo sequence attached shows the journey of one particular monarch I found.
It started by fattening up on milkweed leaves (picture 1). Later I found it seeking out a nesting spot, eventually settling onto the side of a boulder.
Than it created its white anchor point (picture 2) before using internal fluids to coat itself into a chrysalis (picture 3).
After a week or two, the new monarch emerged. The butterfly unfurls its wings in the sunlight (4) to dry them out before flying away. You can see the chrysalis remnants on the rock.
