What does your garden look like ... Today?

[Meadowlark]

The attraction...

Quadruple: 3 Monarchs and Gulf Fert

Triple Monarchs:

Double Monarchs;

Double Gulf Fert and Swallowtail:

Double Monarch and Swallowtail

Single Giant Swallowtail:

 

[Sheal]

There was worry about the lack of butterflies earlier in the year @Meadowlark. Were they late arriving and did you get the expected numbers?

 

[Meadowlark]

@Sheal, my "worries" were completely unfounded being new and inexperienced to the butterfly game. The largest numbers here are late arriving migratory types as I have learned.

The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is listed as endangered, but you wouldn't know that in my garden now as I'm seeing as many as 5 feeding together at once. I never expected to see that...and have found the attractor garden to be most rewarding. more so than I ever anticipated.

 

[Sheal]

I'm glad to hear your news and they must be a pleasure to watch in your garden. Also that you're doing your bit to help them. I have read about the migration of the Monarchs and that numbers have dropped. Let's hope they survive despite being endangered.

 

[Meadowlark]

It is an incredible migration story @Sheal ...and I am absolutely thrilled to be a small part of it and contribute to their survival even if minuscule contribution. .

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Saw a monarch last week and I think it was the last one I'll see this year. Temps are getting really cold now and I'm sure they're probably all out of the state by now.

 

[Meadowlark]

... I'm sure they're probably all out of the state by now.

Maybe passing through Texas...and maybe stop off at Meadowlark Ranch attractor garden.

 

[Sheal]

Below is a lengthy article from National Geographic about the Monarch butterflies which is interesting to read...

Monarch butterfly, facts and photos

www.nationalgeographic.com

 

[Meadowlark]

When you have the only blooming flowers left around the area, the butterflies find a way...

Monarchs galore (they sure don't look endangered here):



Lots of Gulf Ferts



Several long-tailed skippers joined the party

 

[Meadowlark]

The Monarchs have pretty much moved on now in December, but several locals still hanging around the remaining flowers in the garden.

The Gulf Fritillary still showing in strong numbers amongst the few zinnias remaining.

The good old reliable Buckeye finds the remaining nectar wherever it can.

I'm anxiously awaiting Jan. to see any butterflies show up.

 

[Meadowlark]

Saw a monarch last week and I think it was the last one I'll see this year.

Speaking of which, while reading some old threads yesterday, I ran across @JBtheExplorer posts on raising Monarch butterflies.

Absolutely fascinating to me...and would love to see more.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Speaking of which, while reading some old threads yesterday, I ran across @JBtheExplorer posts on raising Monarch butterflies.

Absolutely fascinating to me...and would love to see more.

I haven't raised them in many years now. I decided to shift away from that and keep my focus on providing habitat. There were some varying opinions about the affects of raising them indoors or raising too many together, and I ultimately decided it was best to just let nature do its thing in my gardens.

 

[scarecrow garden in China]

In my garden, the children are pulling up radishes (carrots and white radishes) from the vegetable patch and watering the newly sprouted plants.

 

[Meadowlark]

Welcome @scarecrow garden in China . Great photo.

 

[Esther Knapicius]