Thankfully the sun came out for the California Western Monarch Day Festival, held at the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove. What a difference warm weather and sunshine does for the activity levels of these amazing insects. They truly were self-propelled flowers today!

We were even told about the Monarchs mating behavior with numerous examples happening in the warm sunshine.  Monarch males either pursue females in flight or pounce on resting females, and then attempt to couple with them in struggles that can last many minutes. Everyone had to watch where they stepped because the Monarchs were 'doing it' all over the place. How happy we were to know that baby Monarchs were soon to follow.




This is a pretty great video showing just how alive the Grove is. Wow!