Hi Dawn

I bet Susan will have to tie weights to her feet to keep from going into orbit she's so excited.

Monarchs have been pretty thick around here the past few days. Amber and I have been monitoring milkweed in the pasture and we're already finding eggs.

{{gwi:450334}}

{{gwi:459743}}

Susan

How hard is it to transport eggs on leaves? Could I send some eggs with Linda to you if she didn't mind?

My favorite weather website that's most accurate for me shows at least one freeze for us Saturday night and a possible Friday night.

randy

Hi Randy!

I love the pics! Our native milkweeds are up and growing vigorously too, so I think it will be a very good year for all our winged friends as they have a good early source of food.

I wish I could send Susan some of our pipevine swallowtails. :D We have so many and she is always hoping for more, more. more!

Susan,

You've done it! You have achieved 'Butterfly Mind Control' over Randy and he is now trying to find ways to get caterpillar eggs from his place to yours. Way to go!

On a more serious note, you two, I am expecting weather about the same as Randy's, and with my low-lying microclimate that won't be good. On the other hand, I've dealt with worse late cold snaps, so I will not panic.

Have a lovely day today before the Artic Express arrives with all that cold air.

Dawn

I've had several monarchs in my yard this week. They're really attracted to my dianthus, which are in full bloom.

Dawn

It's worse than you think.:-)

I'm almost finished with our "Monarch Caterpillar Cage." Amber's science project this year is to raise monarchs from eggs or cats and then release the butterflies.

It's double walled so no wasp can reach the cats if they choose to crawl around on the wire. Need to pick up some hinges tomorrow for the door. It's 2 foot square cedar frame and has handles on top for easy moving.

{{gwi:454526}}

Hi ozlifter

We've mainly seen them here on dandelion and in the pasture looking for milkweed.

randy

Randy,

Very, very nice cage. :D

When Chris was in about 4th or 5th grade, we raised some butterflies in one of those little kits that you could buy back then in educational catalogs. Raised them and released them, just for fun. We all were so excited when they 'hatched' and also very excited when we released them.

After we moved to Oklahoma when Chris was 14 years old, it was HIS interest in the hummingbird moths that led me to discontinue the use of Bt in my garden and garden 'for the butterflies' instead. It just didn't make sense to plant a moon garden for the moths, while simultaneously trying to kill off the cats in the garden.

And, you know me, I plant so very many tomato plants that the tomato worms and tobacco worms can eat all they want and I still have plenty of plants and fruits left for us (and for everybody we know).

I am sure Amber will really enjoy this project!

Ozlifter,

We have had monarchs for about 3 weeks, but only in heavy numbers this last week. I also have had them around my dianthus and other cool-season flowers that are in bloom, but have had even more of them in the pasture and on the edges of the woods where there's an abundance of native plants.

And, if I wear a brightly patterned shirt with flowers on it, the butterflies follow me all over the yard, and so do the hummingbirds! :)

Dawn

Dawn

Finally spotted our first hummer on Sunday. It's 11 days earlier than I've ever seen one before, but I was starting to wonder if we would have any because of the early extended warm spell had everything else out and around.

randy

Just checked in here! Yes, I'm excited but I have no milkweed to feed them yet, Randy, wah!!!!!!! All of mine are either just seedlings, or I just planted the seeds. I may go to TLC or Precure today to see if they have a couple of plants. Are you still planning on going to see Marilyn of Wild Things at the Farmer's Market this Saturday?

Yes, Randy is converted. He and his daughter are doing a project together and raising caterpillars. Isn't that great?

I saw a Monarch last week. It flew thru the yard to the exact location where I had my milkweed last year, hovering for a moment as if to say, "what up?" Darn it!

Also saw a beautiful male Eastern Tiger. He let McKenna pet him - was very friendly, and they are HUGE! Have seen pearl crescents, Mourning Cloak, Goatweed Leafwings, Cabbage Whites, and scallopwings.

The PCs and Scallopwings are all indulging themselves with the dandelions and violets - who says weeds aren't useful?

I'm so excited....

Susan

Hi Susan

Yes, I'm going to meet Linda there to do our swap. Asked Marilyn to bring me a few tropical milkweed. All mine are just a few inches tall right now.

randy