Zinnias are a great nectar source for migratory monarch butterflies as they wing their way to their overwintering spots along coastal California.
How much do monarchs love zinnias?
So much that sometimes a monarch will touch down on a zinnia right next to you.
That's what happened today in our family's pollinator garden in Vacaville.
A monarch fluttered around the garden and then dropped down to fuel up on nectar, oblivious to the photographer standing inches away.
Zinnias seem to bloom almost year around, attracting honey bees, syrphid flies and other pollinators. They're late bloomers, too--perfect for migratory monarchs.
Indeed, monarchs need all the fuel they can get to reach their destinations, and a patch of zinnias makes the perfect pit stop.
Life is good.
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