On our way back from Duluth we stopped at the boat launch in Two Harbors. At the edge of one of the small ponds was a patch of Joe-Pye Weed. Joe-Pye Weed attracts all kinds of insects along with the beautiful Monarch Butterfly. We found almost a dozen monarchs feeding on the flowers. The male monarch has the black scent gland on each hind wing. Some must have just emerged from the chrysalis as their wings were in perfect conditions and still had small folds on them.

It is always a good day when you get to see monarchs. We haven’t seen very many butterflies in recent years. Last year I only saw one and that one I had to rescue from the front of a vehicle in a parking lot.