Monarchs Migrating?

[dreamshark]

It seems like I've been seeing more monarch butterflies than usual around town this year, but this is the first time I've seen anything like THIS. Are they gathering for migration already?

And does anybody know what that blue/purple flower is that they are clustered all over? It's a huge favorite with both monarchs and honeybees (which also seem to be more numerous than normal this year, although still heartbreakingly rare).

Comments

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

Wow, look at those monarchs! I never saw them clustered like that when I lived there. Very cool.

The plant looks like veronica (aka speedwell). It's known as a butterfly nectar plant.

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

Went by there again today and noticed that they had their plantings labeled like an arboretum! This one was called hyssop? Does that sound familiar? Damn, should have written it down.