No end in sight. That’s what people have said about September’s rains, and with good reason. On the afternoon of September 29, as I write, I have measured 9.72 inches of rain for the month and collected measurable amounts of rain on 16 of 29 days.

	TRR photos by Ed Wesely (Click for larger image)

Monarch migration. Since September 25, a spectacular monarch migration has been in progress. From my own observations, and those of readers who have called or emailed reports, I’ve concluded that successive cold fronts, beginning on September 25, have pushed big waves of butterflies into the region.

On September 27—a warm, hazy morning that was prelude to a storm—50 or 60 monarchs drifted into our garden, with dozens stopping for nectar. The above picture illustrates the traffic at a Buddleia (butterfly bush) plant. Close inspection reveals four monarchs gathering nectar.

	(Click for larger image)

A male monarch, left, recognized by a black dot on each hind wing, draws nectar from a zinnia. The wing veins of females are thicker and lack the dots.