Return of the Monarchs (on my land, anyway)

[DummyGladHands]

I was driving from Phoenix to Yuma once during the migration. My grey car, and every other car on the road, was bright yellow. It still makes me sad.

[MacTech]

@ZipperJJ

Today I was standing in the parking lot of a restaurant after brunch, talking to my cousins, and a monarch was circling us. Then I drove home (to the next town over) and took the dogs outside and there was a monarch circling us there!

My uncle is an avid lepidopterist and planted milkweed in my yard. My neighbor has a couple of plants that attract butterflies too. My huge butterfly bush in the front yard got killed last winter

Monarch-y!

Your last name wouldn’t happen to be Venture, would it?

[Digital_is_the_new_Analog]

I can’t speak about Monarchs, but I understand your joy. I love having nature show up. I live smack in the middle of civilization, on one of the busiest streets in my county. It’s a straight shot down the road to one of the largest malls in the nation. But my house backs up onto a “lake”, and I enjoy watching “my” ducks, iguanas, and squirrels. It’s…soothing.

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

Here’s a crappy cellphone pic of the the monarchs in my field. They’re still hanging out.

Monarchs

[Northern_Piper]

Butterflies?!?

Hmmph. Here I thought that this thread would be about Mercotania seceding from the US and Qadgop swearing allegiance to Her Majesty, her heirs and successors.

But butterflies are good too.

[ZipperJJ]

@MacTech

Your last name wouldn’t happen to be Venture, would it?

No but sometimes I pretend these butterflies are all my henchmen…

[Northern_Piper]

A follow-up: we went to the local Seedy Saturday this weekend. The Regina Horticultural Society was handing out little packets of milkweed seeds, free.

I got a few packets and next month, will scatter them along the creek bank, in hopes they take root and start a self-propagating, self-seeding patch of milkweed along the creek.

The nice lady at the horticultural society table was most approving of my plan.

[Whatever4]

A couple of my milkweed plants bloomed last year. But I haven’t seen a Monarch in several years.

[quiltguy]

@Whatever4

I have planted common milkweed, joe pye weed, and another forgotten name butterfly plant. I let my yard go to daisies and black-eyed susans, and I have several autumn joy sedums.

What I don’t have is butterflies. I had caterpillars one year, but never found a chrysalis. This year I saw one Monarch.

I’ll keep planting and hoping.

Perhaps those caterpillars(which are rather distasteful) were pecked at by birds, and never made it to adulthood? Try using a mist net placed at the top of the plants as they come into bloom. It’ll provide SOME protection without impeding access, and allow them to complete their metamorphosis.

While milkweeds are necessary for monarch egg-laying, don’t forget to plant other nectar-rich flowers for their delectation. Any of what I call “helipad” flowers would be good; large, single, flat-topped or strongly-spiked flowers that easily support adult butterflies, e.g. cosmos;heliotrope;lantana;zinnias;tithonia;echinacea;yarrow;sedums.

ZipperJJ: You LOST a buddleia? Man oh man, I thought those things were eternal? What area of the country are you in?