Monarch Butterflies ~ Sky Glory Sanctuary 2015

[ponyqueen]

Hay everypony! Another season in the garden is underway, and the Monarchs have arrived! I photographed a female laying eggs on 6/6/2015, and so the caterpillar monitoring begins! I have four varieties of native milkweed in my garden (named "Sky Glory Sanctuary", actually a 1,500 sq ft yard section), and several more varieties I am starting by seed.

Speaking of seeds, if you happen to be attending the Chicago fair, I will give away a packet of seeds (about 125 seeds! About $5 retail value) in exchange for your spare flutter pony, any condition! The seeds are from the much favored Rose Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).

I'll keep posting new pics and updates as the season continues!

6/6/2015 Saw female monarch laying eggs- at least nine observed.
6/13/2015 First Larval monitoring and milkweed inventory. 15 larva observed. 734 milkweed counted.
6/20/2015 - Ten larva observed, all 4rd or 5th instar size.

Okay, enough chatter... the pictures!

Just registered site this year as an official Monarch Waystation. Background rose milkweed, middle Butterfly weed (just starting to turn orange) and foreground is common milkweed.
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Female ovipositing egg! On rose milkweed.
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The egg! On rose milkweed.
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Tiny 1st instar caterpillar. On rose milkweed.
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2nd instar on rose milkweed.
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Beautiful rose milkweed just starting to blossom.
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Getting bigger! Characteristic feeding behavior- chews at the leaf base causing it to hinge-over, hiding the 'pillar as it continues to feed at the tip of the leaf. On rose milkweed.
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Thanks for looking!
pq

[ashes]

Cool!  I've wanted to grow milkweed in our garden for the monarchs - we live near two large gathering spots along their West Coast migratory path (Pacific Grove and Natural Bridges State Park), and thought it would be great to have some food for them.  Sadly their population has decreased.

[melodys_angel]

Awesome

Its nice to see the stages too--kind of rare to see a monarch anymore.

[Harmonie]

My mom is all into raising and protecting monarchs, too. But we've hardly had any butterflies around the area. I don't even know if my mom has seen a single monarch this year. I think she'll be happy to know you have had better luck!

[Princess Lala]

Oh cool! im glad they made the journey safely!!!! They migrate here in Texas every autumn, its absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! Butterflies... EVERYWHERE!!! Some hang out here for a while on their way to Mexico for winter! :3

[ponyqueen]

Haven't seen any monarch since the one... counted ten caterpillars yesterday that are probably all siblings. I hope another monarch finds our garden soon!

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Thank you for helping the butterflies!   

[kaoskat]

They are so pretty!!