I was looking for something to do when I grew up, then decided not to “grow up”. It is over rated. My first blog was to chronical doing 60 new things in 60 years. I can not believe that was 3 years ago!
The place where most of the eastern Monarchs winter is the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve and is now a World Heritage site. The reserve was established in 1980 and extends from the mountainous forests of eastern Michoacán to western Mexico State 100 km northwest of Mexico City. The protection of the lands and the forests that lie within the area (56,000 hectares) meets resistance from local members of communities and companies who log and sell wood. Oyamel fir trees are the preferred tree for the Monarch. It is interesting to note that it is also referred to the Sacred Tree and the foliage is used in religious festival mainly at Christmas.
Milkweed is the only plant that the Monarch lays eggs on and the only plant that the caterpillers eat. What do we know about milkweed? It is a beautiful plant with wonderful blossoms. It is considered toxic to cattle and was placed on the Noxious Weed list decades ago. Farmers and municipalities spray and mow the milk weed so much that the supply to feed and lay eggs has dwindled and the need for a push to plant milkweed and nectar flower has actually become quite a necessary movement to increase the numbers of this threatened species.
My journey started a couple of years ago with a concern for the milkweed being cut down in the summer. Talking and writing a few letters was what I did. This year I decided that I wanted to transplant milkweed plants onto the edge of our property. A neighbour had pulled up milkweed plants and I drove by, stopped the car and got out to introduce myself to her. She wanted to make a garden and wanted to get rid of the weeds. I explained the plight of the Monarch and the importance of milkweed to the Monarchs. She honestly was not aware and as a child had loved the Monarch butterflies.
I took the plants she pulled home thinking that I would try to root them. The next morning I saw a wee shadow through a leaf and – ta da! a 2nd instar caterpillar munching on the leaf. How many others were there? I went back to look to no avail.
Once you commit to saving a caterpillar you commit to feeding it and keeping the feline cats, hair sprays and perfumes away from it. Monarch caterpillars have healthy appetites and it has been said that a 4th and 5th instar cat, can eat a leaf an hour! This means finding healthy milkweed that is not deformed, covered in aphids and spiders and is growing away from anywhere that spraying occurs. I drove down a road and found milkweed! yay! OH! and a large caterpillar that I take home. I find eggs and small caterpillars and I can’t just leave them out to be beaten and eaten!
Do you see where I am going with this story? Knowledge is needed to know the correct way to help foster the eggs and caterpillars. I go to Monarch Watch and learn about all things Monarch. Journey North teaches one to reporting sightings. World WildlifeFederation, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy of Canada are only a few of the great sites to find information on the Monarch. A working knowedge for planting milkweed is available on YOU TUBE as well as a series on looking for eggs, caring for eggs, for caterpillars, for pupating cats, Chrysalides and then the adult Monarch butterfly! Thank you Mr Rich Lund!
Planting Milkweed Part 1 Collecting Seeds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_d1FMJiLo8
Planting Milkweed Part 2 Sprouting and Growth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCjZk9wbDa0
Planting Milkweed Part 3 Ready to Transfer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPRBZeQ6Hgk
Raising Monarchs Part 1 Finding Eggs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I5F4AHyQHs
Raising Monarchs Part 2 Hatching Eggs : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehq__6MQP3w
Raising Monarchs Part 3 Caring For Caterpillars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJU8-FpGI78
Raising Monarchs Part 4 Caring For The Chrysalis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Ha_TjUpEk
Raising Monarchs Part 5 Releasing The Butterflies :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-E71kVxFtI
The videos above are excellent and provide almost everything you need to know to help.
I joined a couple Monarch Facebook groups and lucked into The Beautiful Monarch. Awesome. Everything Monarch.
I collected 15 eggs within the first week. Of those 10 hatched and grew larva large and made beautiful chrysalides. I have also collect different sizes of caterpillars. These cats have personalities I swear!
Nine beautiful Monarch butterflies have been released so far and 5 are waiting for release tomorrow. I have been able to go to the camp on two occasions and I have taken all eggs and caterpillars and milkweed up to Hevey Inlet. No running water or electricity so everything much be done in the strong daylight hours!
At home we have a screened gazebo that I have set up as a Monarch Butterfly waystation with nectar plants and a table to set ripe juicy fruit to get ready for flying. I was delighted to finally get 6 of the 7 adults feeding! Placed them on the melon, wet a toothpick with juice and tickled their proboscis. Five butterflies on a plate! Fun!

Food Frenzy!