We are missing monarch caterpillars this year! We usually see them this time of year in Illinois and bring them inside to raise in our butterfly cage before releasing them again. But our milkweed has been empty. They were either early this year and we missed them, or there just aren't that many to see. Watching a caterpillar become a butterfly is such a miracle, so our summer has lost a bit of its usual magic!
I'm so sorry to hear that, Stephanie 💔 What a beautiful annual tradition! The transformation really is astonishing, so special to witness up in person. We were able to hatch Promethea Moth caterpillars, due to my oldest son's interest, and it was awesome.
The Monarchs face such obstacles. I hope it was just an off year for your area, and you'll be back on the map next season! We are at the far reach of their migration, and have only ever seen a few each season, as we have again this year. I treasure each one, as I feel we may not have many more seasons left with them :)
Those images of the Primrose Moth are incredible Sydney. I agree - they would make an excellent inspiration for stuffed animal. Such a unique-looking moth.
I’m so thankful that you’re providing this archive of missing creatures and their habits - just in case. Here in Australia, things change year by year dependent on temperatures and rainfall. There are certainly things that no longer appear in my garden that were there when I moved here 11 years ago. We had such extreme heat, droughts, fires that things just didn’t survive. Follow that up with four years of solid rainfall events and lots of other things rotted in the ground! Only time will tell what recovers. Hugs and thanks from afar. 🤗🤗💕
Thanks, Beth! It's so true, it's just tough to make a living in this world, isn't it?🤣 And some things will return with the next swing of the pendulum, and some will be gone for good, and all we can do is wait and watch and appreciate whatever it is we find now alongside the memories of all we've found before. Gosh, terribly philosophical 🤣 Hugs!
That's so cool, Thomas! I am really enjoying picturing a gray treefrog snuggled under an umbrella 🤣 We have those little cuties here, too, but they are usually tucked invisibly into the high-up branches of our apple and maple trees. One year, a male picked a low branch to sing from, and I absolutely could not get enough of him 🐸💚
Oh, that primrose moth! I’ve never seen one, tho we do have the primrose in the wild here. What a beauty! I’m hoping you will see these absent friends again. A sobering thought to consider the 21 species no longer with us 🥹
Aren't they fantastic? I keep hoping that if we keep the primroses going, the moths will find us again one day :) It is, indeed, sobering. Always that balance - the joy of nature, and those moments that really drive home how fragile it all is...
This is a beautifully done post expressing both the acknowledgement and the hope that occurs when we miss some of our annual gifts of nature. Thank you!
Interesting and scary. Here in Lee County, Alabama we had a dearth of spiders last fall, but I’m happy to report they are sneaking back around. Your primrose moth is beyond the beyonds.
Thank you, Mary! It’s weird when you notice that absence, isn’t it? I’m so glad your spiders are back! They’re so critical to our ecosystems in ways that most of us don’t put much thought to, day-to-day. Honestly, I’m really touched that you missed them and are glad they’re back - many folks are quite the opposite 🤣
Thank you for sharing your joy and for offering a heartfelt bow to these beautiful creatures. The primrose moth does look snuggly!
I hope in coming years you see them return. Out here in the PNW we are seeing changes too, though I’ve also noticed that species are less on an annual clock as a bi-annual or even tri-annual clock… just when we’re certain something has disappeared for good, suddenly they’re back in full force. I like to imagine that the intelligence of life sometimes temporarily adapts or finds dormancy or new territories for a period, but we all know this isn’t the case for all species.
I love your offerings over here so much. Thank you for the smiles and reflections of gratitude.
Thank you so much, Kimberly! You’re so right about these longer cycles. Our family lived in the PNW during a severe round of starfish wasting disease. We witnessed the devastating loss first hand, and wondered if it would be too much. We also saw the first season that hinted at hopes of recovery before we moved - and now I hear that populations are doing so much better! It can be quite hard to know what’s recoverable and what’s just not - nature is so resilient, and so fragile at the same time. It’s poignant on a number of levels.
Thanks so much for sharing a heart for this amazing nature world that we’re all in together! 💕
This is just so beautifully written. As an outdoors person, I'm holding my breath with you that all these life forms show up on your property next season, but I'm also in awe of your awareness of the natural life around you. The details you include in your writing and the wonderful use of photographs... I'm running out of adjectives and adverbs. I feel like I'm right there with you observing, noticing, and wondering.
Thank you so much, Sarah! My heart is warmed to know my writing is connecting with you this way - it’s all I hope for as I share the ways that nature constantly amazes me! 💕🌱
Aw, thanks so much, Don! Have a great day at work, and I hope you enjoy this week’s episode :) This is one of my favorite moths (🤣I say that about every🤣)
We are missing monarch caterpillars this year! We usually see them this time of year in Illinois and bring them inside to raise in our butterfly cage before releasing them again. But our milkweed has been empty. They were either early this year and we missed them, or there just aren't that many to see. Watching a caterpillar become a butterfly is such a miracle, so our summer has lost a bit of its usual magic!
I'm so sorry to hear that, Stephanie 💔 What a beautiful annual tradition! The transformation really is astonishing, so special to witness up in person. We were able to hatch Promethea Moth caterpillars, due to my oldest son's interest, and it was awesome.
The Monarchs face such obstacles. I hope it was just an off year for your area, and you'll be back on the map next season! We are at the far reach of their migration, and have only ever seen a few each season, as we have again this year. I treasure each one, as I feel we may not have many more seasons left with them :)
Your best yet. That moth is absolutely magnificent, sends me to the moon.
Thank you so much, Lola! I've been so happy with how people have responded to the Primrose Moth - she deserves all the enthusiasm! 💕
Those images of the Primrose Moth are incredible Sydney. I agree - they would make an excellent inspiration for stuffed animal. Such a unique-looking moth.
Thanks so much, Neil, they really are!
I’m so thankful that you’re providing this archive of missing creatures and their habits - just in case. Here in Australia, things change year by year dependent on temperatures and rainfall. There are certainly things that no longer appear in my garden that were there when I moved here 11 years ago. We had such extreme heat, droughts, fires that things just didn’t survive. Follow that up with four years of solid rainfall events and lots of other things rotted in the ground! Only time will tell what recovers. Hugs and thanks from afar. 🤗🤗💕
Thanks, Beth! It's so true, it's just tough to make a living in this world, isn't it?🤣 And some things will return with the next swing of the pendulum, and some will be gone for good, and all we can do is wait and watch and appreciate whatever it is we find now alongside the memories of all we've found before. Gosh, terribly philosophical 🤣 Hugs!
I hope all these wild neighbours return! The Primrose Moth is so beautiful.
Thank you, Juliet! They really are something :)
Those moths are making me want to plant some primrose! We get eastern gray treefrogs here, they sing a lot and sleep in our patio umbrellas.
That's so cool, Thomas! I am really enjoying picturing a gray treefrog snuggled under an umbrella 🤣 We have those little cuties here, too, but they are usually tucked invisibly into the high-up branches of our apple and maple trees. One year, a male picked a low branch to sing from, and I absolutely could not get enough of him 🐸💚
Oh, that primrose moth! I’ve never seen one, tho we do have the primrose in the wild here. What a beauty! I’m hoping you will see these absent friends again. A sobering thought to consider the 21 species no longer with us 🥹
Aren't they fantastic? I keep hoping that if we keep the primroses going, the moths will find us again one day :) It is, indeed, sobering. Always that balance - the joy of nature, and those moments that really drive home how fragile it all is...
I truly hope these wild wonders return. 💜
Thank you, Sara!💕
This is a beautifully done post expressing both the acknowledgement and the hope that occurs when we miss some of our annual gifts of nature. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Lili!
Interesting and scary. Here in Lee County, Alabama we had a dearth of spiders last fall, but I’m happy to report they are sneaking back around. Your primrose moth is beyond the beyonds.
Thank you, Mary! It’s weird when you notice that absence, isn’t it? I’m so glad your spiders are back! They’re so critical to our ecosystems in ways that most of us don’t put much thought to, day-to-day. Honestly, I’m really touched that you missed them and are glad they’re back - many folks are quite the opposite 🤣
I know, isn’t she just so fabulous?!?💕
Thank you for sharing your joy and for offering a heartfelt bow to these beautiful creatures. The primrose moth does look snuggly!
I hope in coming years you see them return. Out here in the PNW we are seeing changes too, though I’ve also noticed that species are less on an annual clock as a bi-annual or even tri-annual clock… just when we’re certain something has disappeared for good, suddenly they’re back in full force. I like to imagine that the intelligence of life sometimes temporarily adapts or finds dormancy or new territories for a period, but we all know this isn’t the case for all species.
I love your offerings over here so much. Thank you for the smiles and reflections of gratitude.
Thank you so much, Kimberly! You’re so right about these longer cycles. Our family lived in the PNW during a severe round of starfish wasting disease. We witnessed the devastating loss first hand, and wondered if it would be too much. We also saw the first season that hinted at hopes of recovery before we moved - and now I hear that populations are doing so much better! It can be quite hard to know what’s recoverable and what’s just not - nature is so resilient, and so fragile at the same time. It’s poignant on a number of levels.
Thanks so much for sharing a heart for this amazing nature world that we’re all in together! 💕
This is just so beautifully written. As an outdoors person, I'm holding my breath with you that all these life forms show up on your property next season, but I'm also in awe of your awareness of the natural life around you. The details you include in your writing and the wonderful use of photographs... I'm running out of adjectives and adverbs. I feel like I'm right there with you observing, noticing, and wondering.
Thank you so much, Sarah! My heart is warmed to know my writing is connecting with you this way - it’s all I hope for as I share the ways that nature constantly amazes me! 💕🌱
"I honestly think that the Primrose Moth would make the most fantastic stuffed animal - look how snuggly she looks!"
You are so right! She is spectacular!
Thanks so much, Corie! :)
🙏🏻❤️
Hey, Sydney, I’m working today so I have not had time to read this post yet, but I wanted to take a minute to say I love your blog logo. Great job!
Can’t wait to read this post. It looks fascinating, and I love the pink moth. 🩷🩷
Aw, thanks so much, Don! Have a great day at work, and I hope you enjoy this week’s episode :) This is one of my favorite moths (🤣I say that about every🤣)
Lovely! I do hope they return next year!
Thank you, Pamela! Strange times (or perhaps I've just reached an age?), I find myself saying, "We'll just have to wait and see" all the time lately 💕