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Post by datgirl on Jul 25, 2020 9:53:59 GMT -5
So I have become a little obsessed with Monarch butterflies. I joined a Facebook page that is dedicated to them. So far I have released two butterflies that I found as caterpillars on the milkweed growing in the garden. At this moment I have two chrysalis and 3 caterpillars fattening up in their little butterfly enclosures lined up in my dining room. I was able to see the first butterfly emerge but the second one my husband had to attend to because I had to go to work, boo. It looks like the two that I have now should emerge the first weekend in August. Keep your fingers crossed. 2020-07-25_09-48-54 by datgirl2012, on Flickr
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Jul 25, 2020 14:02:04 GMT -5
datgirl, do you use any special variety of milkweed, or basically the variety found growing in the wild? I have some volunteer milkweed in the garden but haven't yet seen any signs of monarchs or caterpillars.
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Post by datgirl on Jul 25, 2020 15:22:49 GMT -5
SpringRain🕊️,nope, just the wild milkweed growing in fields. The lot next to us used to be full of wild flowers and native plants. Someone bought it a few years ago and now there is a big old house with a swing set the kids never play on and a manicured lawn. Luckily the milkweed seeded itself on our property too so I always have it coming up somewhere.
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Post by desertwoman on Jul 25, 2020 18:35:30 GMT -5
Before you know it you will have many monarchs living with you. You're going to have a monarch garden!
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Post by emmsmommy on Jul 25, 2020 19:07:04 GMT -5
datgirl, I told my husband to leave the milkweed next to the shed. Noticed its starting to bloom so will have to keep my eye out for monarchs.
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Post by datgirl on Jul 26, 2020 8:13:26 GMT -5
desertwoman,I have been seeing a lot of them this year. I hope they continue to visit. emmsmommy,You have a perfect opportunity to teach your daughter about them. Hatching them is pretty easy, they do all the work.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Jul 26, 2020 8:29:54 GMT -5
Here there are plenty of milkweed plants. Some of them growing where I don't want them but let those alone when they are in a good area. They grow through cracks in my foundation and just in the lawn. I have monarchs here. One of these days I will have to check for any chrysalis.
Yesterday I was leaving the dog park and saw a monarch land on the ground at the edge of puddle I guess to take a drink...maybe getting some minerals(?) from the sand.
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Post by datgirl on Jul 26, 2020 21:05:33 GMT -5
lilolpeapicker,Lots of it here too. I actually had to pull some out because it was taking over the vegetable garden.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Aug 1, 2020 8:14:34 GMT -5
it was taking over the vegetable garden. I think that the most grown plant here, aside from weeds is milkweed. It is in every garden plot, along the base of my foundation, and in the grass here except the raised beds, yet.
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Post by datgirl on Aug 14, 2020 10:37:21 GMT -5
2 new Monarchs today.
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Post by datgirl on Aug 30, 2020 13:42:39 GMT -5
The last one emerged today. That was #11. I'm done for the season.
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Post by binnylou on Aug 30, 2020 15:18:38 GMT -5
We have a lot of milkweed in the ditches adjacent to our wild area. Neighbor's sister is in to Monarchs. I sometimes think she may have made milkweed seed bombs, increasing the food supply for the Monarchs.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Aug 30, 2020 16:29:33 GMT -5
I've noticed an uptick in the number of Monarchs around here. Last winter there was a welcome surge in numbers at their overwintering grounds in Mexico. I'm hoping that the re-establisment efforts many folks are involved in are making a significant difference.
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Post by Mumsey on Sept 13, 2020 4:49:44 GMT -5
Flocks of them visiting our yard last night. I've never seen this many at one time, they are in clusters in the trees.
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Post by binnylou on Sept 13, 2020 10:26:42 GMT -5
Mumsey, Possibly just resting, or maybe drying from all the rain?
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