Monarch

I haven't seen many around this year so was as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof when taking this picture.

They're so beautiful and just love those zinnias.

Joan

Joan, that's just beautiful!!
Okay, you know why you haven't seen so many around this year????BECAUSE they're all in my backyard,lol!!! I was outside doing stuff in the yard, and noticed all this activity above me in the leaves of my Silver Maple (wretched tree btw). Lo and behold, there's all these clusters of Monarchs hanging off the branches. I've never seen anything like it!!! Of all times for my digi to need recharging!!! I'm going to see if I can get a shot of them if they're still there tomorrow.

I just love it when the wildlife come to hang out in the gardens!!

Erynne

Thanks Erynne. I like the wild life too as long as it isn't grizzlys.

Joan ~:0)

Monarchs do not breed in Newfoundland as we have no milkweeds. However, I have actually seen several this summer, including 3 last Saturday. I guess they have blown off-course. I hope they can make it back to the mainland...they'll have to try it soon!

Joan, you really got a nice shot there.

Gorgeous close-up and colours Joan (as always a wonderful treat :)

Erynne I hope your digi is charging up now.

Lol, Joan, I might take a bear over squirrels! Butterflies are so skittish when they sense movement, so I can see why you would have been nervous trying to get the shot....."please don't fly away!!!!" How far away were you from the Monarch?? I think I need a new camera in order to achieve that kind of clarity and possibly a good reference for dummies on the basics of photography.

Pam, the camera is charging!! My neighbor said she hasn't seen as many Monarchs around in the 33 yrs she has lived here and said she's certain it's my doing with all these strange things I'm planting,lol. No, I can't take any credit for something like that and they were most likely headed this way anyhow. I have inadvertantly, however, planted many annuals & perennials that would provide a decent source of nectar and I always refill the birdbath in the morning to provide water for thirsty critters (empty every night to deter mozzies).

Erynne

Todd, have you ever thought of planting milkweed? I found it in a seed catalogue under Swamp Milkweed. However these ones were all over zinnias. They were there on my way to store, still there on way back. And still there when I came back with camera. These were tall zinnias and they had a real feast off them. First ones I've seen in a few years and I was thrilled.

Thank you echoes, they were very accomodating.

Pam, yes they are lovley colours. I feel so lucky.

Erynne, these weren't the least bit skittish and I was surprised that they hung around for so long. You can be sure I'll plant the same type zinnias next year.

Joan

Okay folks, I tried really, really hard to get the very best shots and I've come to the conclusion that I should never take up photography. Joan, you should be here in my yard taking photos of these Monarchs because goodness knows, you'd get it right!
I found this to be challenging because everything was so far above my head and no matter how much I zoomed or stood on tip toe, I got some blur going on.
The numbers of Monarchs has increased today and I have no clue what's going on or why there's so many of them. I quit counting at 140 and it's like my tree is bedecked with jewels. I'm assuming the butterflies are temporarily roosting and I've read in my monarch book, "Monarch Butterflies...Saving the King of the New World" that when they pick a tree to roost on, chances are they will return to that same tree next year, always roosting on the leeward side. It is not known how they know to head for certain trees but there are hints that it has something to do with pheromes. Doesn't it just figure that this was the tree I was thinking of removing because there are three of these big trees so close together. Oh well, I can't very well take it away now can I? LOL

Here goes with the show:

Branch section one .....how many do you see?

Section 2: (yes I enhanced it to light it up more)
Oh yes, the book did mention NL. "....there are almost yearly records of Monarchs being found in Newfoundland, although there are no native milkweeds on that island. Strictly speaking, Monarchs are not limited to the range limits of milkweed but they are not capable of reproducing beyond the limits of their obligate larval host plants."

Section 3:
They seems to get really ticked when a new fellow comes along and tries to nuzzle in with the crowd but then they settle down again.

Section 4:
Ahem, somebody put on a little Barry White would ya! Apparently the males aren't too swift at always being able to differentiate between females and males when it comes to reproduction.

Section 5:
Here's a male with his wings spread. Males have 2 small dark spots on the hind-wing where as females do not.

Section 6:
Right profile everyone please!

Section 7:
They really do step all over each other.

Section 8:
They really wedge themselves in there. There were quite a few in this part but with their wings closed, they almost disappear......have you given up counting yet???

Erynne I'm speechless!!!!! Ü Are you sure you don't live in California/Mexico?????? I've always wanted to see that in person.

Section 9:
And of course, there's the loners on the outer edges of the tree:

Extras:
I really liked the colour on this guy on the bottom....talk about standing out in the crowd!

Same area as above I think but a breeze came through right when I was trying to take another pic.......whoa, everybody hang on, lol!

Erynne read four posts up.......I snuck in before you were finished posting. ;S

Pam, I just don't know what to make of it all but I'm absolutely thrilled that they have honoured me with their presence! I'm just in good old Mississauga, with airplanes roaring over head every 3 minutes. I did see the pics of the roosts in Mexico in my book and you can barely see the trees that they're all covering.
My son reminded me that two Saturdays ago, he and his little friends were playing soccer and the ball hit a branch on this tree and half a dozen Monarchs went fluttering into the air. So now I'm keeping track. If I had that many on August 19 and I now have well over 150 just 9 days later, how many more are going to come???
Does anyone think I should be reporting this to some butterfly association? Is it a big deal do you think?

I think I'm going to go outside with the flashlight just now and see what they're up to!

Erynne

I'd be contacting them Erynne (esp. since you've never seen those numbers before). p.s. If they are still there try taking a night time picture. I'm sure their colours will pop then.

This message was edited Aug 28, 2006 7:03 PM

That's fantastic Erynne. How about shooing some over my way. LoL

Could I copy one of the pictures to show someone?

Joan

Absolutely Joan, copy away!
Here's another one just taken 5 minutes ago. If you look beyond this branch and to the right you can see another cluster of sleepy Monarchs. It's so much easier to take their pics at night when all is still. The only downside is my fear of running into the resident raccoon,lol.
I counted approx 70 Monarchs on this branch and that's just what I could see facing me!

Joan, excellent photo.

Erynne, way to go. You are so lucky to have all those monarchs. How many times a day do you go out to check on them? Lots I bet. I guess from your place they must head to Point Pelee before crossing Lake Erie.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/canada/nature/archives/2002/sept/index_e.asp

Phenomenal, Erynne! What a great experience. Wonderful that you have those photos to look back on.

Don

Lol broots, I just came back in from outside for the fourth time since darkness descended upon us.
You know, I honestly wasn't paying that much attention to them until yesterday and that was only because of the sheer numbers of them. After work, the first thing I did was run out to see if they were still there and I actually laid down on my back and just stared skyward at them for a good while to watch their habits.
I have a new mission and that is to make sure I'm really ready for them next year by having a little more on the menu (milkweed for one) and look into this way station idea. This has been the most amazing thing I've seen in long time and I wish someone would come over to my house to witness this and be as excited as I am by it all. DH is as about excited by them as he is my hostas :o)
And yes, Point Pelee seems to be where their headed....gosh they must have alot of stamina to go so far!

TY Don! I wish you all could come to my house to see these butterflies!

Erynne those are very impressive pictures. You are so lucky to see them. I have a clump of pink Milkweed starting to go to seed. If you want some, I would be happy to send you some. Asclepias incarnata "Soulmate". The butterflies love it and the Monarch's lay eggs on it.

Brenda,
If the Monarchs will love it, then I can't deny them it. Thank you very much for your offer. I just looked it up and it is a lovely pink!
I started some seed of this plant by wintersowing, Callistephus chinensis ..Pavlova Dark Blue. It is an annual if I remember correctly and looks more purple to me than bluish. I wonder if this is one that comes true to type if I were to sow any seeds it might produce because the Monarchs won't leave this one alone.


edited to add, I believe I will have enough seed for several people of this one because every seed I sowed came up and I have numerous blooms.



This message was edited Aug 28, 2006 11:24 PM

Unbelievable!!! I hope they stay around for awhile yet!

Beautiful flower! If'n there is any of it's seeds left, after those who do have Monarchs as regular visitors, I'd love a few.

How lucky you are Erynne! I have Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet' (white) as well if you are interested in having some of that when I harvest. I can attest to what echoes says about Monarchs laying their eggs on it. I had the largest monarch caterpillar on mine that I have ever seen this year. Unfortunately, when I went to check up on him a few days later he was gone - no caterpillar, no cocoon, nothing. I'm afraid he may have made a very tasty treat for one of the robins :-( --Ginny

Erynne, this is fantastic! I'm just north of Hwy 89, near Alliston. Lots of Monarchs were flying south through here yesterday, on their way to you. I guess they will wait in your tree until the wind is favourable for crossing the lake. But what led them to congregate in you garden? Are there any butterfly experts out there who can explain?

June

Pam, they were still there as of this morning along with a Downy woodpecker I spied in a nearby tree. I'll definitely send you some seed when these are ready; they make for a nice splash of colour for this time of year.

Ginny, that is very sweet of you as well to offer seeds of milkweed...thank you! My kids are going to have a fit, but I'm going to take away a little more lawn in front of the greenhouse and have a dedicated milkweed/butterfly bed....6 ft long and 3 ft wide shouldn't hurt nobody, lol. Is it my imagination or are there more robins than usual this year? They are quite brazen too because they come right up to me while I'm digging out soil to see if they are any worms in the muck.

June, nice to meet you!
I, too, wonder why they are here in my yard. Last year, when I bought and moved into this house in August, I saw quite a few pass by over the course of a several weeks but they didn't hang around. Then again, with the exception of the trees, this place was devoid of plant life so maybe now there's enough to keep them in nectar before moving on.

Erynne

Thanks for posting those amazing pictures.

Erynne I loved looking at all your pics of the Monarchs. That is quite a beautiful scene. How lucky you are they graced your home.
Lin

Hi, everybody--

Just had a good read through of all the luck you have had with Monarchs in Canada starting their migration! Beautiful pictures! Thanks, Erynne, for posting this link in Perennials for us! What a spectacular find!

And if you don't already have them, here is the "Peak Migration" chart with dates for the monarchs arrival in various latitudes--

http://www.monarchwatch.org/tagmig/peak.html

And here are a few other links in case you want more information about the Monarchs and their migration and butterfly gardening, in general.

Interestingly, the most important Monarch Scientist and Researcher, the Urquharts, were from Canada so there is probably loads of information available on your butterflies, in particular

http://www.unityserve.org/butterfly/urquharts.html

"Monarch Canada" Webpage

http://www.cnf.ca/monarch/index.html#about

And a good list of articles about the best larval host and nectar plants for Monarchs and other Butterflies

General Interest Butterfly Gardening Articles:

http://butterflywebsite.com/articles/constructlist.cfm?type=butterflygardening

Thanks again for all the great pics and the good monarch news. Let us know how your butterfly gardens are growing!

p.s.--did you post this on the Butterfly Gardening thread? I am sure they would love to know about it!

And please keep us up to date on "Perennials", too! http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/641683/

Erynne
AMAZING!
Thanks for sharing !
Ann

Thanks for all of the good links tabasco! It always gives me a nice warm feeling inside when one of our friends to the south pops in and lets us know that they have an interest in what's going on up here. When they share further info with us like you have, it's even better.

--Ginny