Cathy,

They have been early everywhere. I found several hundred eggs, but probably will only have about 30 make it to pupation. I started them on wild milkweed, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I didn't have time to go out and search for more as they got larger. So I gave them some milkweed I bought, and lost lots of caterpillars. Must have been treated with pesticide or systemic. I now have about 60 more eggs laid this week. I'm hoping to get out and find more wild-growing milkweed. Eventually, I will have several hundred plants that I've started from seed.

I think if I had to do it over, I would have just taken a few of the eggs and fed them. As it turns out, that's basically what I've ended up with. I was trying to save the baby milkweeds from being totally eaten up. A friend and I even contacted Monarch Watch in hopes of obtaining some artificial diet, but they wouldn't send any. So, I've helped a few butterflies survive.

BTW, I apologize for not getting your seeds to you. I've had a rough few months. If you still want False Nettle seeds, I can send them to you.

Sandy

Exciting!
I saw my first Tiger Swallowtail at a nearby playground last week. No monarchs yet.

In last week's newsletter, Monarch Watch pointed out the early arrival of Monarchs where milkweed was not yet available for them. I hope they found some in the wild, but it is a problem this year like they've never observed before.

Sandy, I wonder if MW was afraid to release any of the artificial food for fear they would run out because they are dealing with large numbers to feed right now and no natural diet for them.

First we had many days of warmer than usual temps with strong Southerly winds that brought the Monarchs up into Oklahoma. Since then, we have had these spurts of cold weather and strong Northerly winds that is keeping heavy numbers of them hanging around where milkweed was limited to begin with and is now in short, short supply. We may lose a lot of them because there is no food.

Is the population early? Or, do you think the milkweed is delayed due to cold weather? Or both? Hmmmmmm.

Susan

Congrats Cathy! I haven't seen a Monarch yet but I'll keep looking. My milkweed seeds that I winter sowed aren't large enough yet either. I hope the Monarch population doesn't suffer again.

Brad AKA Moonwolf

wow, sounds like there is quite an early milkweed shortage!

we are still so unseasonably cool...today's HIGH is 49...brrrrrrrrrrrrr. no butterflies in sight :(

I highly recommend common milkweed outdoors because 1. It gets bigger 2. It blooms earlier 3. It grows in colder temps

I would recommend finding a spot away from the rest of your garden because the seeding can get annoying. but it can definitely sustain more monarch cats and the blooms are very fragrant.

Also, many different butterflies use as a nectar source. Up here I have seen mourning cloaks, eastern swallowtails, monarchs, painted ladies, and even this rare (at least here) 8 spotted forrester. The pic is from the link below:

{{gwi:465643}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Richard Seaman Nature Wallpapers

Sandy, First of all, I'm very sorry to hear about your mother. I know how you cared for her, and I can only imagine what a loss that would be. No need at all to apologize about the seeds. I got some from PMN and they're coming up, so I hope to have a nice bed of false nettle this year. I had them before but then for some reason most of them died out.

That's too bad about your Monarch cats. If only there were some way of telling if milkweed from somewhere else was treated with pesticides or not before we decide to purchase it. I know that you did your best to raise those cats and we can only do so much. I just wish that the Monarchs wouldn't have shown up before the milkweed is big enough to feed all of them. I'm afraid that the Monarch population across the country will suffer because of it.

Kim, If one was at my place already, don't be surprised if they show up at yours too, but I hope for their sake that they don't unless the milkweed there is bigger than it is around here. I know it's a little warmer there were you're at, so maybe it is. That's great that you also got to see a Tiger Swallowtail.

Susan, This is the earliest that I've had Monarchs get here, but of course I was only keeping records for a few years. If I had 20 or so years of record keeping like Sandy probably does, then I would be more comfortable at drawing the conclusion that they are very early this year. I know that all of the other 6 years that Monarchs showed up here, I already had milkweed. The Monarchs hadn't shown up until May or June the other years. It has been cool and rainy here, which would most likely have an effect on the rate of milkweed growth, but I wish that it would hold the Monarchs back too. Instead of waiting until their usual times of showing up, they've come earlier though. I hate to think of their early arrival causing a drop in the population, but with not much milkweed up to lay their eggs on, I don't know how many cats would survive. I'm really not sure how long a Monarch cat can go without eating (I'd never be able to intentionally starve some to find out...besides, you'd think that a place like Monarch Watch would already know how long). If only they could go into a sort of limbo until the milkweed is up more.

I'm actually glad that Mrs. Monarch only laid 5 eggs here on the milkweeds that I had sitting outside. I had about a dozen pots of TMW sitting on the screened back porch or else she'd have probably laid on those too. The eggs should hatch on Wednesday, and I'm pretty sure that they'll have enough to eat. I just wish that my TMW that I winter sowed would be bigger (still small in milk jugs)...I'm almost afraid to put it out when it's big enough to be put out. If more Monarchs show up, I don't see how a bunch of hungry cats could survive.

Brad, I know what you mean, I hope too that the Monarch population doesn't suffer, but I'm just afraid that it will. Here it was looking promising after hearing about the high numbers that migrated to Mexico last year. I thought what a rebound after the bad winter they had down there that previous winter...and now this! I wish there were a way they could coordinate with the supply of milkweed available.

Tony,
Brrr, that is cold! I guess you mean that for a daytime high. We get in the 40's at night yet but haven't had any freezing weather in the last 2 weeks or so. I don't think we'll get any more until fall.

The leaves on Common Milkweed are definitely larger than those of other milkweed that I've grown. I don't know if it maybe equals out per plant, though, because the other kinds I've grown have a lot more leaves than the Common Milkweed seems to have. Yes, CMW does have a very nice scent.

You're lucky to get to see an 8-spotted Forester Moth. I've never seen any. I like your close up of one. My husband said it looks like a monster. lol I think it's pretty. I think he said that just because of it being so close. :)
Cathy

Cathy,

Thanks for your kind words. Glad you got some FN seed.

I was able to get out today and find wild milkweed for my newest batch of caterpillars. The viridis is blooming, which is really early. I know this milkweed is safe, as it's the mw I started my other cats on, but ran out. There is so much in the field that I shouldn't have any problems feeding all the cats that show up. I actually found more eggs this evening--but not as many as previously.

Frost is predicted for NE Oklahoma tonight. Usually we don't have frosts in May, so this is late for us. Cold weather isn't through with us yet. I covered all my sensitive plants, and brought in the Tropical MW seedlings. Can't afford to have any of them freeze. I'll need them come mid summer when the Monarchs take residence in my backyard.

Sandy

I did put out three milkweed plants that I had been overwintering. They are about a foot tall each. I also noticed some of the A. incarnata that I planted in the fall is starting to come up. Hopefully the monarchs will find it...and that the plants grow quickly to keep up with any hungry cats.
Kim

I was hoping to have more food for them available this season. I tried starting some A. syriaca that I purchased seed for over the winter. I've had success growing A. tuberosa from seed, but no luck with these. I cold stratified them and expected to see some germinate. So far nothing. Perhaps it was bad seed?? Any tips? Do you know where I could buy plants for syriaca? I'd love to have more food available to them as soon as possible.
Kim

I have had the best luck with seeds I buy from Butterfly Encounters. Like you, I could never get the syriaca to sprout. I've given up on buying any seed from Georgiavines. I never get germination. Seeds must be fresh for best germination. And, from experience, I've learned to stratify the seeds for about 4 months instead of a shorter time. I stratify my seeds in plastic baggies of damp sand.

Butterfly Encounters prices may be a little more, but the seed quality is great. All their
seeds, including the syriaca came up quickly.

Sandy

Sandy,
Thanks for the tip!

Be cautious with syriaca, though. Some people have grown it and wished they didn't. It has a tendency to be invasive and spread rapidly. If you have a large area where you're not concerned about it taking over, then you won't be surprised. My property is too small to allow it to take hold here, so I grow others that aren't as overly enthusiastic.

Susan