The Guilford Mill was built in roughly 1767 not far from Greensboro, North Carolina. Local legend holds that British troops seized the mill during the Revolutionary War. It is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places and continues in operation today. Stone-ground corn, wheat, and other grains can be purchased in a shop inside the mill.
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| The milkweed flowers are rather pretty, I think. |
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| Lots of insects are attracted by the bright colors and tasty pollen. |
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| Seed pods form along the plant stalks. |
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| The seed pods dry, break open, and send the seeds drifting in the wind like dandelion fluff. |
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| We've saved some seeds to plant to keep the monarchs returning next year. |
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| The monarch caterpillars are voracious eaters, and they eat nothing but milkweed. |
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| It's fascinating to watch them grow from little ones about the size of a fingernail paring... to BIG guys. |
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| As they grow, they shed their skin and emerge fatter... and ready to eat lots more! |
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| We noticed this caterpillar constructing the chrysalis from which the butterfly will emerge. |
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| They strip off their skin and seal up the chrysalis until the butterfly emerges. |
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| Unfortunately we didn't get to see a butterfly emerge, but here's what they leave behind. |
