Could be either one. They can stray farther than there official range, and there can be color variations. There are even white monarchs sometimes.

Congrats Mary! Especially the Black Swallowtail cats. They seem to be at a premium this year. I gave up on the BSTs and ordered some from Edith. I've only seen two really early this year, and none since. Today I had Monarchs in my yard for the first time since I released the ones I raised. And I had a big, beautiful Cloudless sulphur hanging out around the garden. I don't know if there are any eggs, been too busy to check. Tomorrow I fly to Kentucky to see my two grandsons. I'm looking forward to the trip. Butterflies will have to wait until I get back home. A friend is cat sitting. ; ) Sandy

I know it’s been several years since this feed was started.. I’ve been raising monarch cats/butterflies for the last 4-5 years.. most of the milkweed I have planted is tropical milkweed/Mexican milkweed.. I live in north Florida so my monarch rearing/raising season lasts longer the up the northeast coast... I’ve tried growing common milkweed from seed that i gathered when I visited family up north in northern New York..the seeds stay in my freezer.. I’ve sprouted a few seeds from those I gathered. But they just don’t want to grow like they do up north...so just recently I bought 15 seeds of calotropis procera off etsy from a vendor of this plant not far from me...i got 2 seeds to sprout and they are growing.. I know it will be several years to grow this plant to be able to substain the caterpillars I collect..and can’t wait to help this magnificent butterfly to survive

Hi Martha, Yes, this is the most spring activity I've ever seen here in all the years I've been growing plants for the butterflies. I know the eggs left some three weeks back were by Mexico Monarchs, as I watched them leave their eggs. Poor little things, they were in such poor condition. Now some of their offspring have survived to continue this miracle of nature. Now I seem to be getting visited frequently by another round of Monarchs. Can hardly imagine how in the world they managed to lay eggs through all the terrible storms we've had recently but they managed somehow! Now I'm releasing the first group and carrying in the second group of babies. I keep saying I'm going to leave them on the plants but I see the tiny little things and knowing their fate, I can't leave them to the wasps and spiders. The wasps actually patrol the plants, even searching under the leaves. I know they have to eat too, but I don't want them taking the tiny cats There's plenty of other areas around here where they can hunt. Congrats to you for locating a garden area where you can enjoy gardening. What a wonderful idea to allow gardening on the hospital grounds and what fun for you. Please keep us updated on the progress of your new gardens. Mary