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
Growing Milkweed I forgot about an article I had read on the effort to rescue the Monarch butterflies from extinction. Setting the Table for a Regal Butterfly Comeback, With Milkweed by Michael Wines in The New York Times on 12/20 may be old news but it is still good news for pollinators, and the Monarchs specifically. It would be very interesting to see wild native flowers … Continue reading Helping Monarchs And Other Pollinators
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 