First of the New Year

Posted on January 30, 2023 by SweetButterfly Bliss

We had our first of 2023 monarch butterfly emerge yesterday in our butterfly house. This beautiful male was eager to fly away, making it No. 350 that we have successfully reached since we began this journey.

The great thing is the garden is very active, as well as the butterfly house with many chrysalis and caterpillars.

It is incredibly rewarding to witness the life cycle of the butterfly. The nest part is sharing that passion with not only my daughter, but iur fsmily and friends too.

I am excited to share that 2023 is bringing a new vision for me, one that includes growing many host and nectar plants from seed. I am having huge success with zinnia and dill so far.

Surpassed 300

Posted on December 14, 2022 by SweetButterfly Bliss

I am happy to say, as of today, we have successfully raised and released more than 300 (303) monarch butterflies. It has been an interesting journey learning about this species up close and personal. It’s truly amazing what obstacles they are faced with as soon as an egg is laid.

The female monarch butterflies have been busy laying eggs in the garden, as my giant milkweed, which I have been growing for more than two years, is now all stems. Once taller than me, is now trimmed back encouraging new growth again. It’s truly amazing now much eating a monarch caterpillar can do.

With my milkweed pretty much non existent at the moment, my good friend took some caterpillars to her garden, so they can finish eating.

Every time my daughter and I go out into the gardens we spot a new chrysalis, some in very hidden places, while others in odd places. It’s fun to see how far they travel and what they use to create their silk mat on outdoors.

The dance

Posted on June 25, 2022 by SweetButterfly Bliss

A monarch caterpillar making its chrysalis, ending with what my daughter and I like to call the “dance.”

It’s quite fascinating, this stage. Did you know the caterpillar’s hindlegs become fused creating a new structure, which becomes the chrysalis creamster?

According to the book, “Florida Butterfly Gardening,” when the caterpillar is ready to make its chrysalis, it will discharge the remaining food from its gut and then find its spot to transform. The caterpillar will begin to look “lumpy,” and when ready, the caterpillar’s cuticle splits where its weakness lines are, along the thorax. The start of the chrysalis, green in this case, begins and continues, until it does “the dance,” and the remains of the skin falls off.

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