amazing monarch experience

11 years ago

I was fortunate enough to be in the Adirondacks for a few days and was amazed at how the roadsides were ABSOLUTELY COVERED in healthy, green milkweed everywhere I looked. (Its stunning how just a few hours away the habitat could be so drastically different). We spent an afternoon at a farm that participates in the monarch monitoring project. (my boys were less than thrilled to spend a portion of their vacation doing this-it was a short educational class then walk through the grounds to which they rolled their eyes) Well, within moments we spotted our first monarch, then another, and another... It was amazing. (We had not seen ANY back home). Well, I had to practically drag the boys out when it was time to leave. So nice to see their attitudes change and to witness them gain an appreciation and respect for not only the monarchs but nature in general. They are officially converted! Most amazing of all was when we got back home we spotted our first monarch fluttering around our garden-perhaps he followed us home!

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Comments (4)

Liz
11 years ago
How cool is that! So glad you were able to foster some appreciation for nature in your young ones.

Liz
gardendaydreamer thanked Liz
docmom_gw
11 years ago
Great work! That's a memory they'll treasure forever.

martha
gardendaydreamer thanked docmom_gw
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kaboehm (zone 9a, TX USA)
11 years ago
So great. Amazing how Mother Nature can change kids' mindsets! Teens included!!

My little neighbor (5 yo) and one of our maintenance guys at work (72 yo) are now going to help me raise caterpillars when the Monarchs pass through my area in the next month. The little neighbor now knows the difference between m/f and her little 5 yo hands and stubby fingers are perfect for enticing a butterfly to crawl up to release them from the mesh cage if they don't fly out when the zipper is opened. I gave my older friend a tropical milkweed plant and 2 cats about a month ago...one really tiny and the other a few days older. He thought that he had lost the little one and was really sad. The older one pupated and he was thrilled at the release. The next day he found a HUGE cat on the plant (plant was inside, so not a new addition)! He was so happy that he hadn't lost the little cat. He's waiting for it to eclose now. It take so little effort to introduce this amazing part of life to people!
Mary Leek
11 years ago
What wonderful opportunities you are giving to other people who might not ever have had a chance to learn about and enjoy this wonder of nature.

Thank you so much for all you're doing for the Monarchs.

Mary