So Cool!
That's a sight I would love to see someday in my own yard.
How many do you think you have altogether sleeping over?

You need to report your roost to Journey North. How exciting to have so many Monarchs hanging out in your yard! They are definitely preparing for the great flight south.

Sandy

Christie-

I thought there were 40 to 45 but I think more have snuck in, in recent days. When I took that picture it was around 630pm and there were at least that many still nectaring in the garden.

Sandy- they have been here in mass for about a week now? I have had monarch monarchs living here since July and the numbers have been steadily growing. once the liatris started blooming early August the yard became a monarch haven.

Sending them all your way soon! Tony

Very cool! What kind of a tree are they resting in?? If I plant those trees, will they come to my yard too ;-)??

Tony,

It's definitely a roost--They are nectaring and preparing to fly south. That is the same thing they do in my yard, only I'm farther south along the route. Enjoy them as they will be gone soon. And share your information with Journey North (South) as they will be grateful to receive it and will also want your photo.

Sandy

WOW!! That is WAAAAAAAAAYYY cool! Here I sit waiting still for one female to come and lay some eggs. What tree are they sleeping on?

Hi bandjzmom,

the monarchs were roosting in lilac and arbor vitae bushes. I suspect there were also a good number of them on our neighbors tall evergreen.

I don't think it's the trees that kept them here as much as the liatris plants...we have almost 30. They have never roosted here before.

The majority of them left yesterday but today is beautiful and there are about 15-20 nectaring right now.

hope they get to you soon! Tony

What an amazing sight! So beautiful and exciting that they will soon be heading my way! Just gorgeous!

~Laura

Fabulous! You are so lucky! And the Monarchs are lucky that you are nurturing a habitat for them.

I am seriously considering moving to a house that is somewhere along the east coast migratory route. Not just because of your photo, Tony, but it certainly doesn't hurt. :)

Terrene, I've actually had the same idea! I think Minnesota is a popular destination point for the monarchs, but I don't live in a migratory route. I'm in a major suburb just south of Minneapolis.

I think most of the migratory routes are through less populated rural areas, It would be something to see hundreds or thousands at once!

I'm happy to report there are still more headed down from the north. This afternoon there were at least 40 monarchs on the liatris again. Canada had a warm summer too. My friend from NORTHERN Manitoba sent me a picture of a caterpillar to ID...it was a Cecropia! That is WAY north of their expected range.

Because of the tropical storm activity in the NE, we are stuck(happily) in a high pressure system which means sunny skies and 70s/80s for the next week...perfect butterfly weather.

We have lots of Mexican monarchs pupating and I just collected 10 eggs. Need to do some fall planting and transplanting. It's going to be a busy September! Happy Gardening, Tony

Yes, Tony, Danaus plexippus must have really taken over our brains if we are planning for this species to be an integral part of our lives. I am really enjoying tending the caterpillars this year and will miss them when they're all released.

It seems that Minnesota and the north central US is an important breeding ground for Monarchs. There must still be good supplies of wild Milkweed. And you must be on some kind of minor migratory route, because you are seeing larger numbers than I ever see here in central New England. I only get about one migrant per day or so.

Are you a registered Monarch waystation? Congrats on your good weather, please send it our way. There are 6 beautiful Monarchs that have eclosed this morning, and it's cool (60F) and rainy today.

Is it Michoacan? :-0

Seriously, that's wonderful, Tony! There must indeed be a lot of wild milkweed in Minnesota.

Sherry

Terrene, there is a pretty good supply of milkweed here. There are 4 patches of common within walking distance, and a few more within a short drive if I was ever desperate.

One of the major Minneapolis lakes also has a waystation and a festival coming up this Saturday.:

http://www.monarchfestival.org/index.htm

Looks like we will have beautiful warm weather so there should be lots of monarchs fluttering around the festival grounds.

BTW- I am monarch waystation #3972

Sherry- there wouldn't be too many monarch survivors next spring if this were michoacan ;)

Here is a link that might be useful: Monarch Festival 2011