Butterfly Field Of Dreams

[Esther Knapicius]

 

[Mrsclem]

The monarch eggs are starting to hatch. We started seeing the adults late last week and there have been several every day. Now we have dozens of tiny caterpillars! The aphids don't seem to be harming the plants and just too many to try to remove them.

 

[Mrsclem]

My caterpillars are disappearing! I suspect the birds are getting them. We still have a lot of monarchs laying eggs every day and a lot of other butterflies showing up. Yellow swallowtails love the joe pye weed.

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Amazing, what a fantastic place you have created!! Must be a pure joy to watch all your visitors appreciating all your hard work. Well done @Mrsclem !!!

 

[Mrsclem]

Thank you all for the likes and comments! I honestly thought it would take a couple of years for the monarchs to find us. The migration path is 50-60 miles south of here. I was wrong! This morning we have at least a dozen monarchs flying around the yard as well as 7-8 other species. Have watched the birds going into the garden to grab a snack so i'm sure a lot of the caterpillars will not make it but there will be some that will.
I am learning what works and what doesn't in the garden. Lavender and several other plants have died off, possibly due to this years crazy weather. I need to move the pineapple sage! I almost pulled it all out. It looks just like an aggressive weed that grows around the garden area. Luckily, I documented what I planted where. It won't bloom for a couple of months yet and has taken over 2 beds and is crowding out the swamp milkweed. Still have a lot of weeds to pull but don't want to disturb the butterflies that are still laying eggs plus 9:30am and already90+ outside. More photos to follow.

 

[Mrsclem]

This is whats left of 3 beds of milkweed! Dozens of caterpillars, most full size now have stripped all the plants.

 

[Mrsclem]

Running out of milkweed so now its cucumbers and butternut squash!

 

[MaryMary]

I honestly thought it would take a couple of years for the monarchs to find us.

Looks like they not only found you, but flocked to your house in throngs!!

You must have the only milkweed for miles!

Did you pick the caterpillars up and put them on the squash and cukes, or did they find them on their own?

 

[Mrsclem]

Counted 36 on one plant. They found the veggies on their own. There was a lot of native milkweed growing along the roads but it all got mowed down last month.

 

[Mrsclem]

I brought in a bunch of the caterpillars to raise indoors to improve the survival rate. They are already building chrysalis so hopefully in a couple of weeks we will be releasing a new generation of monarch butterflies.

 

[Mrsclem]

Well, the butterfly garden came back this spring. I added a few extra plants and of course the deer have been pruning them for me. Over a dozen tiger swallowtails this morning enjoying the freshly watered blooms.View attachment 55821View attachment 55822

 

[Mrsclem]

 

[LouisFerdinand]

@Mrsclem, Did you plant any Garden Phlox?

 

[Mrsclem]

Have both regular and tall phlox. Both have been in the garden for years and are a favorite of the swallowtails. The tall phlox keeps showing up in areas where it was not planted!

 

[LouisFerdinand]

Have both regular and tall phlox. Both have been in the garden for years and are a favorite of the swallowtails. The tall phlox keeps showing up in areas where it was not planted!

One yard customer I work for has various tall phlox in their back yard that no one planted.