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Monarch Season Begins!

Monarch Season Begins!

July 15, 2022 Elizabeth

First Monarch Caterpillar of 2022!

After last year’s learning and successful raising of a monarch butterfly we have been anxiously awaiting seeing them back again! Last year we had 2 cultivated milkweed plants, a variety called “SoulMate”. This spring, both came back, but one got damaged during an early spring storm. Then, my mom sent us 8 more cultivated milkweed plants to add to our butterfly buffet. However, this year there are SO MANY rabbits! To my surprise, they have been really nibbling on these little milkweed plants. A couple of them are growing to some degree, but several others have had every leaf eaten! We also added a butterfly nectar feeder.

We were SO Excited to go outside on July 13th and saw one caterpillar on our largest soulmate plant. Here’s a video of our little friend!

Then, the very next day and on the smaller of the 2 soulmate plants (the one that was storm damaged) we found 2 more caterpillars!

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Read all about the monarch butterfly population in our backyard

Read all about the monarch butterfly population in our backyard

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