ButterflyLady29
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Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2015 9:12 pm
Location: central Ohio

The Monarchs have returned!

I came home from the store Thursday to see a Monarch butterfly flitting around my milkweed plants. I haven't had the chance to look for eggs because I had to have stuff for the swap meet but I'll be looking tomorrow if I get a chance. I know it's not one of the several that I had here last year but maybe it's one of the grand or great grand children of my butterflies.

It also means the garden won't get worked up like I wanted. The tiller is out of commission and I don't want to destroy the milkweed that is growing there. I'll just have to work around it.

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applestar
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Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

Yay! Is this about the right time for your area? My lot should be starting to trickle in around late June to early July.

j3707
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Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:11 pm
Location: Pacific Northwest, Zone 8, 48" annual rainfall, dry summers.

That's great!

imafan26
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Location: Hawaii, zone 12a 587 ft elev.

That's great. I guess that is why my butterfly bush is determined to set blooms.

ButterflyLady29
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Posts: 1030
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2015 9:12 pm
Location: central Ohio

Yes, it's about the right time. I almost always see a couple females a week or so before the milkweed starts blooming. The first milkweed blooms opened yesterday.

Susan W
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Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:46 pm
Location: Memphis, TN

I've spotted 1 monarch so far. It was nectaring on on a coneflower. There are enough flowers for bees and butterflies for nectaring, and plenty of milkweeds between ones I have growing, and the starts ready for market. Last year didn't see eggs and cats until later, even end of summer.
Interesting in checking the butterfly count from yesterday in a natural area (park) just N of town, just 3 monarchs spotted.

Meanwhile I spotted not 1 but 6 huge green tomato worms on a tomato plant this AM. That plant has been stressed in this past weeks heat, and I am sure the caterpillar invasion didn't help!



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