Yee hah!

Kelly at Kelly's Green has accidently started a caterpillar ranch.

Read it and realize why I need to light a fire under Robbo to up the quantity of garden blogging around here.

Yips! from Robbo: I came across these same critters in my own garden recently. I thought they were Monarchs as well and I'm glad this is now confirmed.

Since I've been handed a mandate, I'll note here that the watchword in my garden these days is dry. We haven't had any meaningful rainfall around Orgle Manor for several weeks now and since, as a matter of both practicality and principle, I point-blank refuse to stand about watering the damned thing, the plants are now pretty much reliant on whatever benefit they can derive from the morning dew (which can be quite heavy).

As a matter of fact, lest you think I've gone all Hobbesian, I would also note that I planted my garden with drought-tolerant specimens - coneflowers, butterfly weed, joe-pye, yarrow, etc. - specifically with these late summer droughts in mind. And while they don't look especially happy at the moment, they're certainly not at Death's door either. Fortunately, it looks as if we're finally going to get some rain as well.