I’ve been noticing milkweed pretty much everywhere I walk and have been casually checking for monarch eggs on the leaves.  For the last two years we’ve reared monarch caterpillars, watched them cocoon and then marveled when the adult butterfly emerged.  I’m eager for the experience again this year.  My not so secret hope is to have a girl butterfly come out.  Our last two attempts have yielded males.  My search today was rewarded.  I didn’t find teeny eggs; I found a good sized caterpillar happily chomping away.

S/he is now on the kitchen counter where s/he’ll be observed daily.

Last year I named my caterpillar Chloe.  That seemed a little silly when he emerged and clearly showed the world that he was a male.  I’m picking a name that is less gender obvious this year:  Danaus.  (If you know that’s the monarch butterfly’s genus, 10 points for you.)  It’s a good name for a girl or a boy.  It’s especially good for a girl though.