Monarch butterflies?

[Katzateer]

Anyone have monarchs this year? So far none in my garden . Only a small group of hummingbirds this year. After the horrible winter, was looking forward to our summer visitors.

[Mickey'sGirl]

We noticed it last year too. My youngest son likes to collect leaves with the eggs on the underside, then watch and record the lifecycle. He had tons of eggs that he "grew" to maturity two years ago, and last year we couldn't find a single egg!! This year, we even planted milkweed, but nothing so far. We think the cold wet spring may have delayed things up here a bit, but we are hopeful!!

[Mickey'sGirl]

Well, we spent an hour yesterday foraging through the Milkweed in search of eggs or caterpillars and there was nothing, nor did we notice any adult butterflies in the area. It really is so sad that they aren't around. We continue our search though!!

[tgmousechick]

We do!

DD and I were at girl scout day camp last week (Camp Ken-Jockety, Galloway, OH) and we found a butterfly around the common milkweed in the fields!

Our unit also found a caterpiller happily munching on milkweed leaves on the trail between the pool and our campsite for the week.

Definitely one of the highlights of the week

Kim

[Mickey'sGirl]

So there is hope! Thanks for posting, tgmousechick!

[Katzateer]

My butterfly bush, that died over the winter, has some new shoots that are getting ready to bloom. I am holding my breath to see if the monarchs come when it does. All the flowers I have in my garden are to attract butterflies and so far, a few moths and small butterflies. I am hoping the milk weed I have growing will attract also. Saw a few monarchs at a library garden last week.

I don't have as many hummingbirds either so a disappointing summer after that long, long winter.

[Katzateer]

We do!

DD and I were at girl scout day camp last week (Camp Ken-Jockety, Galloway, OH) and we found a butterfly around the common milkweed in the fields!

Our unit also found a caterpiller happily munching on milkweed leaves on the trail between the pool and our campsite for the week.

Definitely one of the highlights of the week

Kim

That's great!! Oh how I miss my summers at Girl Scout camp! With my girls, we used to go to Stoneybrook between Cincinnati and Dayton. Thanks for the report!

[weswerx]

Monarch's are the coolest. I usually see them while out running.
They will always remind me of my best friend. She loved them. Last August she lost her battle with Cystic Fibrosis and I saw one fly by during her graveside service. Kind of like a wink from Heaven.