Any other Monarch farmers out there?

[kittygilchrist]

Post your photos!

[Goober III]

A busy backyard:

[elizabeth52]

Wow! Impressive. I have only reared two or three at a time using Milkweed to feed them. Is that melon? I just love Monarchs.

We also grow Parsley just for the Swallowtails.

Post your photos!

[elizabeth52]

A busy backyard:

I have never seen the chrysalis being formed. I only see it after it is completed. Very nice photos!

[kittygilchrist]

The milkweed was stripped by the last generation. They love butternut squash, but it is an emergency food....and I think these might be smaller butterflies.
The chrysalis forming is amazing. It is as if they have a zipper and unzip the cater pillar skin from the back within a few seconds and push it out the top of the chrysalis.

[kittygilchrist]

A busy backyard:

Thank you!

[kittygilchrist]

16 chrysalis visible, i'm not snooping through the bushes.
4 mature caterpillars looking for a good place to transform themselves.
8 seniors feeding
7 juniors feeding
1 "Peewee" Who hatched in captivity surviving on leaves that had been fed to the bigger guys.

The photo is the seven juniors and peewee in confinement.
Monarchs compete for food, and I keep peewee happy.

[Country Dreamer]

Thank you for posting your photos. They are fascinating. What a great job you are doing.

[kittygilchrist]

And I did not know the Monarch chrysalis is laced with gold, look!

[Sable99]

I agree that these pictures are fascinating! Would make a great science project for kids!

[Bonnevie]

one of my butterflies came out today. I'm waiting about 4 hours....for his wings to get pumped with blood and dry. then he can be released

[kittygilchrist]

one of my butterflies came out today. I'm waiting about 4 hours....for his wings to get pumped with blood and dry. then he can be released

Thanks for the info on the duration of pumped and dry.
Earlier ones here in chrysalis are starting to clear the green color so I'm keeping my eye on them...

Ain"t this fun?

[Bonnevie]

wish it was sunnier out....this one doesn't seem to want to leave the wings look fine and they move properly...maybe it's the gloomy skies

[Bonnevie]

Went out to get milkweed flower to giver to butterfly and found a bush with seven more caterpillars on it

[kittygilchrist]

That is wonderful! You are right that the overcast skies have a tremendous effect. The caterpillars are just as still if it were the dead of night.

[KeepingItReal]

Not mine but pretty amazing....

[Bonnevie]

my butterfly wasn't interested in flying....maybe the wind or lack of sun
hoping tomorrow he'll be up to it

[tudacee]

Oh, this looks like something I'd be interested in doing when I get back to TV. Are there certain seasons for them, or is it on-going thru the year? Is there a club?

[Bonnevie]

there is a butterfly gardening club....they have actively promoted planting milkweed for monarchs...the monarchs will be migrating soon to Mexico; return in the spring

[sunglow]

Where can I purchase milkweed plants? I guess it's too late to raise any this year but I could plant the milkweed. Thanks!

[kittygilchrist]

Sunglow, virtually nobody is selling milkweed right now. If you find it it would be extremely expensive. You can find the non- native variety at a big box stores and Walmart probably in the spring.
For native plants see Alan at Shady oaks nursery on 301. You can Google that for the website.

[BarryRX]

16 chrysalis visible, i'm not snooping through the bushes.
4 mature caterpillars looking for a good place to transform themselves.
8 seniors feeding
7 juniors feeding
1 "Peewee" Who hatched in captivity surviving on leaves that had been fed to the bigger guys.

The photo is the seven juniors and peewee in confinement.
Monarchs compete for food, and I keep peewee happy.

I thought for sure that your last line would read "and a partridge in a pear tree". Very cool pictures!