I've been looking at my milkweed because of you but finding nothing. My son doesn't buy that Minnesota gets monarchs before we do. :)

Had my first BST of the year eclose today so I have giant, tiger and black swallowtails flying around here. I guess I'll trade those for May monarchs.

Congrats, congrats on seeing a monarch - 'nothing like a butterfly to brighten things up!

Sherry

So glad to hear you are seeing Monarchs finally! Last year by May 25th I already had 30 eggs or small catepillars. By May 31 I had 107! So far this year, I have not found any eggs and I have been looking quite a bit. I am finding milkweed pop up quite a bit now! I discovered my milkweed patch has alot of coming up, I am so excited. Now for the Monarchs to come and discover it!

KC...This is actually the latest I have seen them in the past 3 years. It has been unseasonably cool but that all ends tomorrow when we enter a string of 70's and 80's...YES!!!

I was running today on trails around the Mississippi and saw my second monarch on this lukewarm low 60's day so tell your son I'm not crazy! ;)

This could be the latest I've gone without seeing a swallowtail though...

Minrose, I had a ton of eggs by this time last year too but my visitor sadly left none.

Start looking this weekend though since our weather will be more butterfly friendly.

Miss Sherry, it's been a long winter but your butterfly stories and pictures have kept me hopeful. Thank you!

Tony

Here in Madison, Wisconsin, it got down to about 40 last night, and we have had considerable rain lately. Great weather for emerging perennials like milkweed, and the lawns have greened up nicely, but still too cold for monarchs. I am checking every day, but no eggs yet.

I went out today to check my milkweed. Some animal (I figure the deer) chewed off all my common milkweed at around 9" tall. They are in a sea of ash seedlings but it looks like the milkweed is the only thing that got chewed.

I didn't think deer liked milkweed! Sorry to hear about that KC. hopefully you have other types of milkweed?

Eric, the warm weather is on it's way...it is supposed to be 86 here on memorial day and then a week straight of sun with 70's and 80's. sounds like good egg laying weather to me! ;)

Saw my first monarch of the year. It was getting some nectar from my neighbor's flowers. Spent about a minute here and moved on. I guess it had places to be besides my butterfly paradise :(

Something was chewing down my swamp milkweed last night. Same height as the common milkweed so I'm still blaming the deer.

KC

The monarchs decided NOT to pass me by. Found 7 eggs on my Sullivant's milkweed today.

That's great, KC!!

Sherry

KC, that's awesome! I've heard that Sullivan's MW is a good host plant. I've got some I planted last year (grown from seed), but it seems to take forever for these plants to get very big. Any hints on growing them? They are native here--just not plentiful.

Sandy

Congrats KC! Tell your son you guys won this year. ;) the weather has been so strange in Minnesota this spring. First it was never ending rain and cold. Then for the last few days it's been sunny with hurricane force winds...ok, I'm exaggerating a bit but definitely too windy for the butterflies. Today is finally better butterfly weather. This is my latest monarch year in recent memory. I hope it picks up soon. Enjoy your butterflies! Tony

Yea KC! Is your Sullivants from Ohio? I know some folks down here who have some but I have yet to avail myself. Oh and MY monarchs have already pupated :). I have 28 chrysalises. Phew...
Cheers,
Elisabeth

So far I have found 5 eggs, but tonight went I went looking I found a ton on some milkweed, it was getting late though, will pick them in the morning, probably will be adding about 10 or more to my collection.

I got mine from Prairie Nursery.
http://www.prairienursery.com

Sandy,
This is year 2 for mine. I bought 7 plants last year. Planted them in clay. Some did not make it. Some struggled. None of them really did well. Really skinny leaves seemed to be a common problem. They did attract mama monarchs last year but I think I moved all the eggs to swamp and common.

So far, I have 13 coming up this year so I cannot complain about their multiplication. Most already look better than last year but I have 3 with the skinny leaf syndrome (my term for it).

As you probably guessed, I'm fresh out of hints on how to get better growth out of them. I'm just glad their growing.

KC