Monarchs in My Garden: Part 2
My previous post mentioned one female monarch came back from the south earlier than I expected. She laid many eggs on my milkweed. There were three adult monarchs that emerged from the chrysalises before our Memorial Day weekend trip to see our grandkids in Oregon.
Before going on the trip, I asked my neighbor to babysit the caterpillars, but she didn’t feel comfortable doing it. I bought two additional butterfly cages with a total of four, and put the milkweed with the most eggs in the cages, then left them alone. One cage had five chrysalises. I left the cage door open in case the adult monarchs emerge while we were gone.
When we came back from the trip, two of the chrysalises had only empty shells. I was glad the cage door was open, so the butterflies flew away. There were still three monarchs that emerged after we returned home.
The other three cages had tons of caterpillars. Some grew bigger in our absence. Some eggs were hatched.
I only had enough milkweed to feed the caterpillars I had so far. My visit to the nursery was disappointing because the plant was dry and almost dead but cost the same. Currently, there are about 20 chrysalises in four cages. When all the adult butterflies emerge, I’ll pack up the cages.
My home-grown milkweed is doing well. Hopefully, I won’t need to purchase commercial ones next year.
My monarch raising season is almost over this year. I made a few recordings of the different stages. I want to show you two of them. If you don’t want to spend 14 minutes watching them, you could fast forward.
We all have our beautiful butterflies within us, you and me!
Have a Wonderful Weekend!
The Showers of Blessings 
Nice 👍
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Wow Miriam!! This is so cool, it took me all the way back to childhood when I used to collect caterpillar to watch them turn to butterflies. Awesome!!
Pat
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Isn’t it cool, Pat? I first did that when I taught preschool. It’s getting easier and easier for me as I got most of the things needed to raise the beautiful creature!
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Oh yes, and so interesting. Am sure the kids loved it! Bet they couldn’t wait to get to school🙂
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Wow, Miriam. You are getting so good at this! With your experience, you could write a short book on growing Monarchs! The photos and videos were mesmerizing. Thanks for sharing your success. ❤ ❤ ❤
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You’re reading my mind, Diana! I’m compiling some photos from last year and this year to write a short educational book for kids. My grandkids would love that! I’ll be back to comment on your reviews. You’ve had a good month of reading. ❤ 🙂 ❤
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That would be amazing, Miriam. I want the adult version. Lol
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Thank you for saying that, Diana! I might just do both! Autumn’s new favorite is the Batman books. I’m amazed how they make the books so simple so the four-year-old have so much interest in them! ❤
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I love how kids are naturally drawn to stories and books. Their brains are thirsty for knowledge and experience. 🙂
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I read The Polar Express to her three times. Like any other books, she got it memorized. Even though she can’t recite the entire book, she can correct me if I misread certain words. 🙂
I’m glad to watch her development closely. Something I missed when my daughter was young. I was so busy.
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Ha haha. Yes! I remember being corrected too. So smark and cute.
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I got a newer version of The Polar Express. The background for the text is white instead of black font on dark gray. And I have a flashlight to see when I read bedtime stories to her in her dark room. 😂
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Awww. How magical, Miriam. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Yeah, my magical wand. 😍💖🌺
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Smart… not smark. Lol
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Wow, this is special well done you.
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Thank you for your reading and comment! Baie dankie! 🙂
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Baie dankie? You know Afrikaans? Are you from South Africa originally?
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No, I used Google Translate!! I hope the translation is okay. I follow a few bloggers who are in SA.
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Baie dankie is perfect.
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That’s great!
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Incredible videos, Miriam. I’m glad you found everything intact when you returned from your trip. Students will love this and be inspired to start their own monarch hatcheries 🙂
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I’m building a presentation, Debra. It will be fun when I get to talk to the students about monarchs. 🦋
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I’m sure it will! You have so much great material to work with.
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Yes, I have more than I need to do the job. I better pick and choose to put a folder of files together!
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It’s no wonder the monarch gets so much attention for their beauty. I enjoyed watching the butterfly emerging from its chrysalis.
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The way the butterfly folds and stays in the chrysalis is amazing. It’s more complex than humans. You can watch the beginning again and see how it drops down. Nature is amazing, Pete!
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I just love that you do thisl, Miriam. We did it on a much smaller scale (bought a kit) when the boys were young, and it was fascinating watching the butterflies develop.
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I did that also when I taught preschool, buying a kit. My daughter did it with her kids last year and this year.
I do my best in a small way to save the monarchs.
Thank you for reading, Teri.
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The chrysalises hanging from the top of the nets are fascinating, Miriam. I think you’re awesome to do this!
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Some caterpillars crawl to the top of the nets to form the chrysalises. I got several built the “mat” on the side of the net. It’s not a good spot because they won’t have enough “wiggle room” when the butterflies emerge from the chrysalises. I had to peel off the mats, take the chrysalises away from the wall, and tie them on my wire. I didn’t it too early for a couple of the chrysalises and killed them because they were not stable yet. 😦
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It’s wonderful of you to help them like this, Miriam. I imagine it’s a lot of work, but also rewarding.
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They are so beautiful. I saw some monarchs flying in twos. I thought, did I raise those? 🙂 🙂
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Kudos to you for doing all of that work.
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I’m glad it started early this year. It’ll be very hot this summer. The milkweed will die faster than the growth of these little guys.
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What a great job. Growing butterfly. Wonderful videos. Good do you doing work.
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Thank you very much, Rahkkhoja! I’m glad the videos turned out well. Thank you for watching.
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Most welcome Miriam. It’s you doing for.
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I have fun doing it, Rajkkhoja!
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Thanks, Miriam. I like that’s! 🦋
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What a thrill to raise your own monarchs and help nature along a little, Miriam! I learned so much from this post and can see what an enormous task this is to execute!
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Thank you, Terri! Yes, I answered the call to raise and save a few monarchs. It took more effort last year as I was still learning how to do it. This year was easier. I hope next year will be even easier. I hope growing more milkweed helps me to raise more also.
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This is wonderful, Miriam. It reminds me of when we raised butterflies in the classroom. Monarchs are gorgeous in every stage. Well done. A great record.
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I know, Norah! I can never the time when we raised butterflies in the classroom. I think that was why I took on this project because I knew I could do it. Monarchs are so beautiful.
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They are stunning! Such a worthwhile project, Miriam. I hear the Monarchs’ numbers are in decline now. So sad.
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Well done Miriam, both for your helping to raise these beautiful creatures, and for your marvellous filming of their emergence.
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I’m glad it turned out beautifully, Pete! I used my phone to videotape it. For days, I didn’t see it on my Google Photo on the computer. I panicked. I thought it was deleted by mistake. But the file was too large to sync. I had to create a link to email to myself which took half an hour, took another 20 minutes to copy the link from the email to my computer and saved it as MP4. From there, I uploaded it to YouTube which took another 20 minutes. I’m glad it’s done now.
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A lot of work, but I’m sure you feel it was well worth it!
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Many people never get to see the wonder of an emerging butterfly, an amazing sight! Those are amazing videos, Miriam…
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Thank you for watching, Anita! I was so happy about the weather and timing of the day when this butterfly emerged. It looks just right. Butterflies are amazing creatures.
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Wonderful to watch, too, Miriam…
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That was amazing, Miriam – it was glorious to see those videos, so brilliantly done by you. Toni
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Thank you, Toni! I watched one monarch emerging video. It got more than 1 million views. I guess because butterflies are so beautiful and the transformation is so amazing. I’m happy with the videos I made. Hope to get more butterfly lovers to watch them.
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How lovely Miriam, a great project for sure. ❤ x
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This is a fun project, Marje! One monarch keeps circling our garden and the front yard. I wonder if it’s one of my butterflies! ❤
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Oh how wonderful Miriam. ❤
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This is amazing!! Great job Miriam. I’ve never seen a green chrysalis like that before…probably because they are Monarch butterflies.
Hope you are doing well this June.
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Thank you, Esther! Yes, monarch chrysalis is green. I had fun raising monarchs this year. We’re doing well. It’s getting hot. The heat this year will be terrible.
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Hi Miriam, well done on raising these Monarch butterflies. It is wonderful and I enjoy reading about your success.
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Thank you, Robbie! There were probably 15 caterpillars and chrysalises that died for different reasons. It’s the ones that survived that count!
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This is beautiful, Miriam. Thank you for sharing the videos. 🙂
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You’re welcome, Kitty! Thank you for watching! 🙂
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🙂
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Thank you for sharing the video. Butterflies are so beautiful, I think of them as flying flowers.
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Yes, all butterflies are beautiful. I’ve been raising monarchs. I want to raise other butterflies also. Thank you for watching the videos. I’m glad you liked them.
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Wow, Miriam – that’s incredible. I’ve never seen a butterfly actually emerging like that. How fun to do what you’re doing. Thanks for sharing these. Hope you are doing well 🙂
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I wanted to document the butterfly emerging, so I took a careful risk doing it. I was so happy the sun was not too hot or too bright. I’m doing well. Thank you, Barbara! Just came back from spending time with my grandkids less than two weeks ago. My husband’s mom broke her hip and is going through some serious medical issues. We’re finding out more and more each day. She is 91. 🙂
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Hi Miriam – yes that’s tough. My mother had 2 hip replacements – she was 92 for the second one and bounced back, but it took awhile. It’s hard work.
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Wow! This is amazing, Miriam. Thanks so much for sharing! xo
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Thank you, Jill! That’s it for the butterflies this year. I have tons of fun doing it.
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Wow! Those two videos are incredible! Thank you for recording these two amazing stages in a butterfly’s development.
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I watched one monarch emerging on YouTube. It got more than 1 million views. One video I posted last month got 800+ views already. The current monarch emerging video got some views already. I think we’re fascinated by the butterflies. Thank you for watching, Liz! 🦋😉
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You have developed quite a complex for these guy, Miriam. They are lucky to have found you. Thanks for sharing the videos. The process is fascinating to watch.
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I have fun doing it, Dan. Next year will be simpler. I took a risk to take the adult butterfly one outside to videotape. I could kill it if I dropped it. I killed a few when I handled them too early. My phone gave me warning every day about overused my data. It has four more days for this billing cycle. 😂🦋
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Well, I enjoyed watching. They are so beautiful.
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Good to know I have audience. They’re amazingly beautiful. 🦋😍
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Did you get the corrected banner?
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Yes I did. I think I replied. Thanks again. I’m almost ready to send stuff out to people.
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Wonderful, Dan! I look forward to it. You got 4 reviews already!
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Yes! I am so grateful.
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I’m a recipient for four years!
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Amazing! Thanks for sharing, Miriam.
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Thank you, Better! I’m glad the butterflies start early this year because we’ll have extreme heat this summer. They milkweed will die faster.
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Milkweed is up here and monarchs should start arriving soon… 🐛🦋 How blessed we are to serve as hosts for our amazing guests! Have an amazing season, dear Miriam! xoxoxo
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Hooray! Good to hear your milkweed is ready and you’ll see monarchs arriving soon. Our temperature is warmer in Southern CA. I’m done early this year. Hope to see your monarchs, Bette! ❤
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Thanks, Miriam! 🐛🦋🧡💛🖤 Have a beautiful summer! xo
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So uplifting Miriam. I am glad you are growing your own Milkweed for next year. Hope you don’t have to “abandon” your babies next year too. Thanks for the videos 🤗❤
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Thank you, Brian. I got about a dozen poisoned caterpillars this year. Got me so mad. I took photos in case I wanted to write a review to complain about the milkweed I bought. 😃🐛
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That is not good. I would write a review as long as you can really prove that their plants caused the deaths,
Growing your own will be good as you can grow the plants organically 🙂
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The plants are sprayed with pesticides. The tags have a warning sign about harmful to humans. The seller who sold me the seeds warned me about the pesticides. It was okay last year, so I bought the plants again this year.
I hope to have enough home-grown milkweed next year though. 🙂
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A beautiful job labouring to give the butterflies a place to grow. Bless you Miriam.
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Thank you very much, Suzette! Some came back to hang out in my garden! 😂🦋
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Awesome 🦋
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I was happy! 🙂
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Excellent!
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How fascinating!
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It’s a lot of fun, Claire! Thank you!
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