I found cats today!

I went to inspect my beds today, since we've had so much rain the last 2 weeks, and found a big surprise! I found 18 Monarch caterpillars and 6 Queens! I'm so excited! I can't believe they left me presents so late. I've never had Monarch eggs on my own milkweed and never raised a Queen at all. I brought all the Queen's and a few Monarch's inside. I put all the others on one plant and covered it with a mesh laundry hamper then used garden pegs to hold it down. That will at least keep them protected from birds and bees.

ok .. you sitting down at your pooter ? ..

.. Good! .. (Hee) .. Now maybe I/we can get ya, to start elaborating a wee lil bit more .. about the
catepillars and the 'queens' in this butterfly 'bizniss' you love so much and are so dedicated to .. hee

Seemed some mitey brilliant protection you've provided them too !! .. Your enthusiasm about and dedication to these beautiful critters just amazes me ..

There jes seems no way that you can't ignite the rest of us to pursue such endeavors .. hee

No chance for me this year .. The Butterfly Weed is long gone, and freezin' temps are coming on quickly, here .. and will surely stay put soon .. fer a spell !.. But will certainly be anxious for next year tho' ...

Yep, there's a plenty websites and links posted here on DG, etc. .. and quite a number of books to read and learn from .. but there's just that certain lil something .. that taking a read of (and the pics) .. of your (and a few other folks) threads and posts .. about your/their personal dealings with the butterflies and catepillars .. that I jes can't grasp from any book.

I'm planning to 'watch' and will be keeping every lil tidbit you opt to share with (us) kb .. for next year!!

- Magpye

kk, I will be outside checking in the morning. Thinking about buying 10 of the "Swamp Milkweed"s to overwinter for friends. Can I plant pot and all in the ground until spring? Should I double pot them when I do this?

Me too!! And good questions Sidney. KB, got fotos of that mesh laundry hamper setup?

John

I'm glad that I have sparked an interest in you guys and am very happy to share what I've learned! I have read some things in books, but I too would rather just get info from someone who's done it. I was enjoying my day of sleeping in and then remembered I should go out and check on my cats! They are fine, munching away. I figured out a new feature on my camera while out there, so I sat out there playing with that. Here is a pic of a couple this morning. I'll run back out and take a shot of that laundry hamper.

Here is my safe haven for my cats. I don't think it stands out very much. lol When they eat the plant that's inside it down, I'll move them all to all to one of the others. Cats have such a high risk of being parasitized that I feel compelled to help them, especially the Monarch's since their numbers are dwindling.

Sugarweed, I have never heard of planting pot and all in the ground. That sounds like a really big project, keeping 10 alive thru winter, but then I don't think you have much of a winter there. Can you just put them in a garage or somewhere when it gets too cold? Last year I got a really good small green house from Dollar General. They sell the same kind at Big Lots too, if you have either of those stores. It was $20, has 3 shelves and a plastic zipper cover for it. The same kind with one more shelf sells for about $100.

This message was edited Nov 21, 2004 9:55 AM

I definately know the way to Big Lots. It's much warmer here than where you are. (My bro lives close by in Carrollton.(sp?) I actually was most concerned about the root system. My experience is they don't move well by transplanting, so I wanted to leave them in the pot.
I believe they can stay in bloom most year-round here. Thanks, Sidney

I was just talking about transplanting these yesterday. I dug 2 small plants and put them in pots to put in my cage inside. I think the Mexican milkweed transplants a lot easier than a native. They have small roots and both perked up fine. I've tried to dig up a wild milkweed but they've got huge roots to China. I guess if you are just overwintering them for other people they could stay in pots. I am going to put a couple more in pots to overwinter them for myself. I do love Big Lots too!