Looks like I spoke too soon. Can't find hide nor hair of them, so my lizards must be licking their lips. There was a Monarch hanging around for a long time, laying eggs, but I fear those will suffer the same fate. Seems I planted my butterly garden in the wrong place. I'm beginning to hate my lizards.

Deb, sorry that you lost your monarch eggs and cats. Hate to tell you this, but I don't think there is a "right" place outside to protect them from lizards, wasps or birds. They will find them! That's why I decided to raise some in the enclosures this tear.

Rhonda, thanks, but nothing ever got them inside the courtyard, because I spray for insects in there so they won't get in the house, and don't have a lot of lizards. I'm going to move my milkweed into pots inside the courtyard this fall so I can at least save a few babies. I'm so sad. I really had hoped for dozens of monarchs this year. I had 10 last year on only a few plants, but all of them are getting eaten this year. It's too heartbreaking to work so hard on something, just to see it all go up in smoke.

For potted plants (along as they are not really tall) you cover them with 5 gallon paint strainer bags (mesh material, about $4 for 2 pack at Home Depot or Lowes) then secure the bags around the base of the pot. They will keep the lizards out, but still be breathable for the cats & eggs.

They also have 1 gallon size strainer bags, but they are small, 5 gallons work better.

Will add that the bags can also be used to cover in ground plants or branches of plants.

Thanks, dangermouse. I'll check on them when I go to Lowe's again. The problem is, the lizards eat the babies as soon as they are born, so I never even get to see them to protect them. I have lots of eggs right now from a Monarch that came in yesterday, but I know it will be the same story. Now I'm seeing evidence of slugs on the upper leaves of the plants. Time to drag out the poisons! I'd rather protect my monarchs than that tiny part of the environment.

My poor mama monarch is going crazy laying eggs, but I only see one little guy who seems to have escaped the lizards. Once they get a certain size, the lizards don't want them, but I don't know about the frogs. I have a lot of toads this year. Never had any before. Haven't seen many Cubans, but the toads are everywhere.

I have one cat that has made it to a size where he may get to pupate, if the wasp doesn't get him. I'm going to kill that wasp. I know, pollinators, blah, blah, blah, but I don't care. I'm going to kill that wasp and all the snails and anything else that wants to eat my baby cats. I'm getting angry now.