Monarch on Milkweed by odie
Open full image in new tab Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
I had my camera out by the garden again (cuz I wasn't weeding for once!) and found this Monarch caterpillar chewing away on a milkweed plant. You can see the milkweed is ready to bloom by the dusty pink color of the flower heads. This was my grandpa's favorite flower scent when he was a boy.
My son, Matthew, decided to feed the caterpillar in a jar so we could watch it spin its chrysalis and emerge as a butterfly. It is pretty sizey so it won't be long now. We do this every year.
Life is finally slowing down here. Sanity is returning. Now let's hope I remember exactly what that feels like!! lol.
Thanks for looking.
Jodie
Please visit my personal website...

Comments (17)
Beautiful shot. I can remember these critters and how they have yellow defensive that sticks out of their heads when they're bothered, raising a smell for any child foolish enough to handle them. Yes, I was that foolish :o) The colors, focus, and details in this shot are just perfect. Thanks for sharing.
Duncan... These Monarchs are docile and harmless with no smell at all. You are thinking of the Black Swallowtail. When you touch it, it tosses it's head and tries to get you with its "horns" and THAT is a nasty odor you never forget.
YEP!!Wonderful creature very well dressed..i just don“t know where is the beginning and where he end..LOL!!You did a fabulous close up and the flowers are beautiful.
Awesome sweetie I usually see these lil babies all the time haven't this spring or summer Maybe too much rain here in Ky......dunno they haven't emerged here yet Maybe later on they will.........great capture Tell your mom a survivor in Ky say hi and would love one of her lumminaries:) Now for me I am T Shirt collector LOL Clear crisp image A fav with me Hugs Susan~
Now that is something I wish I could find. I love milkweed. Such a marvelous sweet smell. This is a beautifully clear image and lovely colors. Well done!
Very chrisp colourful shot! : )
Great shot,a great looking caterpillar.
Stunning capture Jodie.
Great clarity and composition Jodie. It's amazing to think the patterns are for camouflage despite the bright bands. I would love to see what pops out there.
Wonderful pic!
fascinatig! superb compo Jodie.
Stellar clarity in this pic of the little bugger chewing away and absorbing the nutrients from the milkweed, Jodie. Really like the segmented repetitive textures on its bod.
This is excellent Jodie .. :)
A beautifully detailed image! I've never seen one in real life! How lucky that you will be able to watch the transformation!
Excellent macro, Jodie. Even at 400 percent your photo is sharp and crisp.
I have lots of these growing here in the yard, the fragrance right now is heavenly!! Cheri just got a shot the other day of a monarch around them, hopefully we get some caterpillars soon! Sweet shot!!!
the milky feel of the whole seems to permeate the shot, as if you used a "milkweed filter"; you caught beautiful detail on the leaves and buds; and the caterpillar has such fine detail & clarity, he almost balances the shot for you. It's just beautiful, and you have buds right behind the leaf (top) and the most beautiful shadows and furrows (in macro), and the background is beautifully vague with greens & purples as well. Can't quite explain it, but its opulent to me, had real depth for a shot of small space; it's lushness in milkweed land, almost exotic, and I think it's a rich & gorgeous shot.