Monarch caterpillars

This is a Monarch caterpillar and will transform into a Monarch butterfly in a few weeks.

If you want to have Monarchs in your garden, go to your local nursery center and ask for milkweed. Sometimes its labeled as butterfly weed, but its the same thing. Milkweed is the only host plant of this butterfly so its important to incorporate this plant in your garden.

I counted five caterpillars on one milkweed! Can't wait until they turn into butterflies!

Victoria Blue Salvia

This is one of my favorite salvias. Its called Victoria Blue Salvia (Salvia farinacea) and it starts blooming as soon as spring arrives. Right now its really the only plant blooming.

Here is a close up of the flower stalk. I've it planted at the front of my bed because it doesn't grow tall, I'd say around 18-20 inches tall. This is a perennial and doesn't require any extra effort. I like this plant so much that I bought 3 more plants last week.

Catnip is another healthy plant in my garden. Ginger loves catnip!

She got a hair cut last week and now she is much cooler.

Laying in the catnip is Ginger's favorite spot in the garden.

I'll end with a group picture of our two inside cats, Mike (orange) and Kitty (black and white).

Birds

A Louisiana Iris that started blooming a few days ago. I know I planted a red variety of Louisiana Iris but it hasn't bloomed yet. Hopefully it didn't die on me!

Now for a few pictures of the birds at my bird feeder.

I will end with a picture of Mike, one of our inside cats. He is laying on an empty egg crate. He lays on the strangest things. He is a big cat, the egg crate is big enough to hold 25 eggs! Soon he will get a hair cut at the vet's office. I get him trimmed so he will be more comfortable during the summer.