We had a very productive last summer. We raised and released 48 Monarch butterflies. We took in 50 eggs but only 48 made it to butterflies. The whole process was much more time consuming than beekeeping. To prevent disease, we changed Milkweed leaves and cleaned the nursery tanks daily. Once the last butterfly fluffed it wings out in the garden, a sense of accomplishment and … Continue reading Raising Monarch butterflies
Raising More Monarchs This Year: As much as I want to complain about the heat and heavy rain, the garden seems to enjoy it. The lawn that I haven’t invaded with extended garden yet is lush green. Vegetables and flowers are growing profusely. Except for tomatoes, the heirloom types don’t do well at all. And insects, they follow their food in. We are happy to … Continue reading Monarch
More Of Them This Year The population of Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) has been dwindling down to a point of concern that they may be heading toward extinction. With a small patch of garden, we try our best to help them by letting the Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) grow. It’s the only plant that Monarch caterpillars eat. I didn’t grow the first milkweed. It came … Continue reading Monarch
In Anticipation Of A Better Year Happy New Year 2017 I would like to present you with the image of a warmer day in our garden, the Zephirine Drouhin rose. A climbing fragrant rose that blooms continuously throughout the season. One of many things I anticipate again in June. About this ‘anticipation’, I got the idea from a free bookmark I received from the American Horticultural Society of which … Continue reading Happy New Year
Soon To Be Extinct An article in the Opinion Page of The New York Times last Sunday didn’t make me feel good about the direction of our environment. The article ‘The Year the Monarch Didn’t Appear‘ by Jim Robbins mentioned that the population of the Monarch butterfly has dwindled so much that not many of them have made it back to Mexico, their winter home, this year. … Continue reading The Disappearing Monarchs
Heading Toward Extinction? An article in The New York Times yesterday entitled Monarch Migration Plunges To Lowest Level in Decades by Michael Wines leaves me saddened and disappointed. Though the article mentioned that it’s “due mostly to extreme weather and a change in farming practices in North America.” It doesn’t matter whether it is caused by the weather or farming practice, we can help slow the pace of extinction. … Continue reading Disappearing Monarch
A Little Accomplishment We have always had Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in the garden. It’s an official sign of summer when we see them in our garden. They travel up from Mexico, their winter gathering place, every year. It takes them two generations for their trip up north, but only one generation flying back. I’ve learned that their population is in decline since we humans … Continue reading Monarch
Petals and Wings 