Caterpillars!

Arrived today and found two interesting and beautiful caterpillars, one on the milkweed plant and the other walking on the rail of the deck.  After observing them for a while I did what anyone might do...took a few snaps with my iPhone.  I sent the photos off to my friend Barbara who immediately Googled them to help identify these creatures.   She was so excited to report the the one on the milkweed (on the left) was a Monarch caterpillar!!  After doing a bit of research I learned that this little one was one generation of four that monarchs go through throughout the summer until finally, in the fall, the last butterfly goes south to winter...