Hello Friends!
I was a frazzled Mother Hen this week! 😂
Our butterfly weed became home to 10 beautiful Monarch caterpillars! I looked for them daily because we had many Monarchs visiting during the summer. Then, this past week, I spotted a caterpillar, and then several more! 10! I was determined to keep them safe.
At first, I made sure wasps and hornets weren’t around because they would eat my beloved caterpillars. Then, as I sat in the dining room looking out at the garden, lo and behold, three goldfinches came dive-bombing in for a caterpillar snack. So I ran out to shoo the birds away. I love goldfinches, and here I was yelling at them!
Then, just when I thought I had things under control, two praying mantises showed up! I never see those. And guess what? They eat Monarch caterpillars too! I had to relocate them to the other part of the yard. All of this is happening while it is sprinkling rain. Good Grief, I was at my wits’ end!
Mother Hen went into full panic mode. 😂
I went in search of something to cover them to protect them from the Wild, Wild Nature World! Sweet Man saved the day! He had some screening, so I carefully netted them all in the Butterfly Weed using Spring clothespins (they were actually my Mom’s clothespins. Can you believe it? They are 60-year-old clothespins I had on display in our laundry room!).
I finally could rest a bit.
A wonderful friend came to the rescue and took my precious little babies home to her butterfly house.
Thank goodness! I was now able to relax.
I never knew raising butterflies could be this stressful. 😂
Apparently, I’m not just a gardener. I’m a full-time Monarch Mother Hen!
Thank You!
Thanks for reading all about my frantic garden drama! Even though I was a nervous wreck. I loved every minute of it. Now all we can do is hope the caterpillars keep doing well so that they can join the other Monarchs in their Migration.
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A MG friend does the same thing only she has some type of set up where she brings them inside to keep safe. I am always amazed at her successful efforts. Applause to you for all your hard work on their behalf, and I hope your Monarch friend is able to keep them safe.
She is doing a marvelous job. She brought them inside as well. I ran out of butterfly weed so she found some milkweed for them. They are eating us out of house and home!
Thanks for all the love! Happy New Week!
That’s so cool, and very noble of you, Nancy! I’ve seen only a couple monarchs this season in my garden. But earlier in the season I found what I thought was a hummingbird nest in an upright boxwood (nirvana!), only to google lens it and realize it was an egg sac built by a praying mantis, where they lay 50-200 eggs! Not in my garden! No way!
Oh my goodness! Who knew these creatures lurk to prey on others?
I am buying a butterfly house for next fall. I will be prepared! The monarch caterpillars love butterfly weed. I tried planting milkweed, but it did not take. I also heard the Black swallowtails love dill weed. I may plant some of that in the spring.
Thanks for all the love. I hope you are feeling better, dear friend.
Fascinating Nancy! Your photos are so excellent, one could really see them in real life! I had to look up and learn how they do in my state and what a butterfly house is…such a fun and interesting read this morning! And you can tell such a great story, Nancy! Thank you for taking good care of such beautiful creatures. 🐛
Thank you, Sue. You should have seen me! I was going back and forth and even made a path in the grass. 🤣 The Monarchs have started their migration now. We had quite a few Monarchs in our pollinator gardens this summer, so I am so glad they know to come here and have babies. I will be better prepared for next fall. I am purchasing a butterfly house.
I am glad you enjoyed my story. Thank you for sharing your sweet words with me. 🥰
**By the way, the caterpillars are doing well at my friend’s house. **
What a fun post (even though it was stressful for you)! You and Sweet Man saved the day! I also saw many Monarch’s this last week. Tis the season. I hope most of them have a safe migration south. How clever of you to create the animated graphic at the end. You should do a few more and make up a book for your grandson. That would be a treasure!
Oh what a great idea! How fun that would be.
Thanks for all the love! Happy New Week to You!
Good deed my friend! They are so precious.
They are precious indeed! Thanks for the love dear Dorothy. 🥰
Good deed my friend!
Nancy this reminds me of my journey with the black swallowtail butterfly. I posted at the time and need to drag that post out again… but I watched egg, to caterpillar to chrysalis to wet, drippy butterfly on my small herb basket. I didn’t have the heart to worry about my lost herbs, I was so grateful to watch the daily process and photograph them. I commented to another blogger just today about our God’s amazing creations. Thanks for sharing your monarch story. I was fortunate that to my knowledge no predators invaded the process. Have a great and wonderful week. air hugs🥰
Oh, how fun for you to watch the whole process. I got to do the same with my students when I taught.
Thanks for all the love!
Air hugs right back at you, dear Kari!
Oh my, this brought back memories. 😉
The boys and I would raise monarchs for years and years. We would name them.
Hee Hee.
You are right you do become protective of them.
Thank you for the memories.
I love that you named them! How fun for your boys. I did it ad a teacher. My students loved watching the whole process.
Happy New Week to You!
This is absolutely incredible! Watching the entire transformation is such a magical experience. Thank you for putting in the time and care to keep them safe – the world needs more monarch champions like you two!
I like the new name Monarch Champion!!
Thank you, sweet Mary! 🥰
Enjoy the week to come!
Nancy, are you the Monarch caterpillar whisperer? You rescued them from the goldfinches and the praying mantises! The monarchs usually arrive here in early October as they are flying south. They seem to love our zinnias. Butch is doing everything to keep a patch of zinnias alive. He did see a monarch a couple of days ago while walking the wildlife park! Happy Tuesday!
I love it! My new name!
“The Monarch Whisperer!”
Thank you for that!!
I will be prepared come next Fall! I am buying a Butterfly House!!
Thanks for your sweet comments always my dear friend!
You saved 10 Monarch butterflies! I had no idea they had so many enemies!
Unbelievable, right?
It may be why they are on the Endangered List Internationally.
I am here to keep them going strong! 💪
Thanks for the visit my friend!
Welp, I get it Nancy! I would have done the same thing and take pictures as you did! How fun to have the monarchs metamorphosing in your yard! Although I love the preying mantis, we need more pollinators! Love the image you created–so cute!
Thanks Terri! It’s a tough job but someone has to go it! 😂🤣
Thank you for hosting the Flower Hour!
Oh, Nancy, I Love this! We have a lot of milkweed on our property and I see monarch butterflies quite often, but I have never seen any caterpillars. I usually look for them earlier in the year. I haven’t looked lately because I thought it was late in the year. Maybe I should look this week.
Around our parts here in NW Pennsylvania, late summer to early fall is when the caterpillars show up.
I hope you find some!
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Nancy, how very kind, loving and thoughtful of you to save the caterpillars!! I had planted a butterfly weed this summer, but something ate the entire plant. Great work on your part, my friend! 🐛 🦋
Thank you, Kitty! Great news! The caterpillars are changing into their chrysalises! We will have Monarchs in 10-12 days!
My mom grew milkweed at our home in Indiana for monarch butterflies. I had no idea they have so many predators but I guess it makes sense. How kind of you and your husband to care for them. I enjoyed reading your post and seeing your beautiful pictures, Indeed, you did your good deed. (And you told your tale so entertainingly!)
I giggle thinking about it all. Thanks for all the love!
And Great news! The caterpillars are changing into their chrysalises! We will have Monarchs in 10-12 days!
I had no idea praying mantis ate caterpillars. They’re so small (head and mouth wise) compared to the catarpillar! How interesting! #TalkaboutitTuesday
Thank you so much! I didn’t know either. Then did a quick Google search.
Thank you so much for the kind comment. Stay tuned! The Monarchs are all in chrysalises! ❤️
My goodness, Nancy, this is more trying than being a host midwife! Way to go!👍👏
Thank you Mitzy!
I giggle thinking about it.
Great news! The caterpillars are changing into their chrysalises! We will have Monarchs in 10-12 days!
Yay!! They are an amazing transformation to watch. Isn’t God wonderful and amazing?
Aw, you did a great job keeping them safe!
Thank you!
And I just heard we will have Monarchs in 10-12 says!
Nancy Lou!!! Amazing!!!! Every bit…the fact that you have such an array of delicate, vulnerable creatures nearby…your valiant efforts to protect those sweet little caterpillars! Gah! I could feel the urgency in your words! You two are the best protectors! ❤️😉❤️
It was a day! But proud to say we will have Monarchs in 10-12 days!!
Woohoo!!! Please continue being our on-the-spot reporter!!!! ❤️😎❤️
This is cute beyond cute. Like Terri’s story about the Phoebes, this would make a great children’s story. That picture at the end is adorable, too. So, what happens if the Monarchs hatch when you’re not there?
My friend is taking care of them. You get an idea that they are getting ready to transform. Then they have to dry out because they are wet. It will all go well.
Thank you so much for enjoying it all, my friend!
So two mamas. 🙂