The monarchs commenced on the milkweed I apprehended at the neighborhood's garden tour. On the last stop the lady in a visor was giving out tiny milkweed plants to attract the butterflies. I put some in the yard and I kept one in a pot inside the ho

The monarchs commenced on the milkweed I apprehended at the neighborhood's garden tour. On the last stop the lady in a visor was giving out tiny milkweed plants to attract the butterflies. I put some in the yard and I kept one in a pot inside the house. They all grew quickly. We had one caterpillar in that first season who showed up on the indoor plant near the windowsill. When its yellow and black striped body got plump, it crawled up the kitchen sink’s window and looked out onto the yard. It wanted to transform. I asked it onto a stick, then took it outside and placed it on a fig tree.

10696378_10152415246696048_4729141340584159725_n.jpg
The next season we had flocks of the monarchs who laid their eggs, resulting in flocks of caterpillars covering the milkweed, chomping leaves to bits. I walked around the yard, or sat staring for long periods of time, over tracking their moves and d

The next season we had flocks of the monarchs who laid their eggs, resulting in flocks of caterpillars covering the milkweed, chomping leaves to bits. I walked around the yard, or sat staring for long periods of time, over tracking their moves and decisions. The success rate wasn't high and I had a real hard time dealing.

Some monarchs get pawed by cats and dogs, eaten by birds. Some get run over with wheels while they are walking across rock paths. Some monarchs get stepped on, pushed down by wind, overheated. Some never make it to that point. Some monarchs start t

Some monarchs get pawed by cats and dogs, eaten by birds.

Some get run over with wheels while they are walking across rock paths.
Some monarchs get stepped on, pushed down by wind, overheated.
Some never make it to that point.
Some monarchs start to emerge and their wings don’t spread, their wings dry too quickly in the sun without flattening out and expanding.

One morning I found an empty chrysalis, translucent like wax paper, and limping around near it, a butterfly with a good wing and a folded undeveloped wing.

10696378_10152415246706048_7567698961608383122_n.jpg
I thought if I cut the bad wing off and glued on a good spare one I could save her. I had some spares. I brought her inside and let her wander. At night I finessed her body from a white curtain into a wooden birdcage with a variety of flowers for he

I thought if I cut the bad wing off and glued on a good spare one I could save her. I had some spares. I brought her inside and let her wander. At night I finessed her body from a white curtain into a wooden birdcage with a variety of flowers for her to walk on. Monarchs taste with their feet. She crawled up the side and hung upside down like a bat. In the morning I gave her a spoonful of sugarcane water and she drank it up. I prepared for the replacement by first sitting still. I collected the necessary tools.

Wire. Scissors. Glue. A cloth to lay her on while she sits in the refrigerator for three minutes, to relax her. That evening she crawled on Andrea's face, perched on her forehead. I decided to wait to do the procedure. I did a series of charcoal dr

Wire.
Scissors.
Glue.

A cloth to lay her on while she sits in the refrigerator for three minutes, to relax her. That evening she crawled on Andrea's face, perched on her forehead. I decided to wait to do the procedure. I did a series of charcoal drawings of the two of them instead. The next morning she wasn't in the cage. I looked in every corner. I left the door of my house open so if she wanted to walk outside, she could. I pictured myself packing to move at some point in the future, and finding her asymmetrical body. I waited too long. I didn't help her.

Some monarch don’t ever make it into their chrysalis. Some hang upside down in the J formation and only halfway shed, ending up half green chrysalis, half caterpillar. Some shed their skin fully, then never emerge.

Some monarch don’t ever make it into their chrysalis.
Some hang upside down in the J formation and only halfway shed, ending up half green chrysalis, half caterpillar.
Some shed their skin fully, then never emerge.

I know all of this. There are so many around the yard. I planted milkweed for them. And when the time was right there were small bright green pouches with tiny gold specks attached to everything. Tiny extensions hanging from chairs, bathtubs, fig tr

I know all of this. There are so many around the yard. I planted milkweed for them. And when the time was right there were small bright green pouches with tiny gold specks attached to everything. Tiny extensions hanging from chairs, bathtubs, fig tree branches, tomato plants, the brick wall, a shell.

Some of the pouches turn black too soon. Some get lighter, whiter.

Some of the pouches turn black too soon. Some get lighter, whiter.

Some spotted.

Some spotted.

Some hollow out.

Some hollow out.

Some fall down so I tape them back up.

Some fall down so I tape them back up.

From 2010-2014 I created a monarch habitat in the yard of my West LA homestead. I documented the cycles of this migratory butterfly species through photographs and writing, and dressed as one in ceremonial homage.

From 2010-2014 I created a monarch habitat in the yard of my West LA homestead. I documented the cycles of this migratory butterfly species through photographs and writing, and dressed as one in ceremonial homage.

The monarchs commenced on the milkweed I apprehended at the neighborhood's garden tour. On the last stop the lady in a visor was giving out tiny milkweed plants to attract the butterflies. I put some in the yard and I kept one in a pot inside the ho
10696378_10152415246696048_4729141340584159725_n.jpg
The next season we had flocks of the monarchs who laid their eggs, resulting in flocks of caterpillars covering the milkweed, chomping leaves to bits. I walked around the yard, or sat staring for long periods of time, over tracking their moves and d
Some monarchs get pawed by cats and dogs, eaten by birds. Some get run over with wheels while they are walking across rock paths. Some monarchs get stepped on, pushed down by wind, overheated. Some never make it to that point. Some monarchs start t
10696378_10152415246706048_7567698961608383122_n.jpg
I thought if I cut the bad wing off and glued on a good spare one I could save her. I had some spares. I brought her inside and let her wander. At night I finessed her body from a white curtain into a wooden birdcage with a variety of flowers for he
Wire. Scissors. Glue. A cloth to lay her on while she sits in the refrigerator for three minutes, to relax her. That evening she crawled on Andrea's face, perched on her forehead. I decided to wait to do the procedure. I did a series of charcoal dr
Some monarch don’t ever make it into their chrysalis. Some hang upside down in the J formation and only halfway shed, ending up half green chrysalis, half caterpillar. Some shed their skin fully, then never emerge.
I know all of this. There are so many around the yard. I planted milkweed for them. And when the time was right there were small bright green pouches with tiny gold specks attached to everything. Tiny extensions hanging from chairs, bathtubs, fig tr
Some of the pouches turn black too soon. Some get lighter, whiter.
Some spotted.
Some hollow out.
Some fall down so I tape them back up.
From 2010-2014 I created a monarch habitat in the yard of my West LA homestead. I documented the cycles of this migratory butterfly species through photographs and writing, and dressed as one in ceremonial homage.

The monarchs commenced on the milkweed I apprehended at the neighborhood's garden tour. On the last stop the lady in a visor was giving out tiny milkweed plants to attract the butterflies. I put some in the yard and I kept one in a pot inside the house. They all grew quickly. We had one caterpillar in that first season who showed up on the indoor plant near the windowsill. When its yellow and black striped body got plump, it crawled up the kitchen sink’s window and looked out onto the yard. It wanted to transform. I asked it onto a stick, then took it outside and placed it on a fig tree.

The next season we had flocks of the monarchs who laid their eggs, resulting in flocks of caterpillars covering the milkweed, chomping leaves to bits. I walked around the yard, or sat staring for long periods of time, over tracking their moves and decisions. The success rate wasn't high and I had a real hard time dealing.

Some monarchs get pawed by cats and dogs, eaten by birds.

Some get run over with wheels while they are walking across rock paths.
Some monarchs get stepped on, pushed down by wind, overheated.
Some never make it to that point.
Some monarchs start to emerge and their wings don’t spread, their wings dry too quickly in the sun without flattening out and expanding.

One morning I found an empty chrysalis, translucent like wax paper, and limping around near it, a butterfly with a good wing and a folded undeveloped wing.

I thought if I cut the bad wing off and glued on a good spare one I could save her. I had some spares. I brought her inside and let her wander. At night I finessed her body from a white curtain into a wooden birdcage with a variety of flowers for her to walk on. Monarchs taste with their feet. She crawled up the side and hung upside down like a bat. In the morning I gave her a spoonful of sugarcane water and she drank it up. I prepared for the replacement by first sitting still. I collected the necessary tools.

Wire.
Scissors.
Glue.

A cloth to lay her on while she sits in the refrigerator for three minutes, to relax her. That evening she crawled on Andrea's face, perched on her forehead. I decided to wait to do the procedure. I did a series of charcoal drawings of the two of them instead. The next morning she wasn't in the cage. I looked in every corner. I left the door of my house open so if she wanted to walk outside, she could. I pictured myself packing to move at some point in the future, and finding her asymmetrical body. I waited too long. I didn't help her.

Some monarch don’t ever make it into their chrysalis.
Some hang upside down in the J formation and only halfway shed, ending up half green chrysalis, half caterpillar.
Some shed their skin fully, then never emerge.

I know all of this. There are so many around the yard. I planted milkweed for them. And when the time was right there were small bright green pouches with tiny gold specks attached to everything. Tiny extensions hanging from chairs, bathtubs, fig tree branches, tomato plants, the brick wall, a shell.

Some of the pouches turn black too soon. Some get lighter, whiter.

Some spotted.

Some hollow out.

Some fall down so I tape them back up.

From 2010-2014 I created a monarch habitat in the yard of my West LA homestead. I documented the cycles of this migratory butterfly species through photographs and writing, and dressed as one in ceremonial homage.

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