Flora

Your garden should balance aesthetics and well being for the plants. We use native plants from a local garden center. Native plants guarantee that the plants will acclimate quickly and be recognized by female Monarchs to lay their eggs. Non-native plants are non-native for a reason - the environment in our region doesn't provide what they need to thrive. More importantly, Monarch's will not recognize non-native plants as readily resulting in a reduced chance of laying her eggs.

 

There are many native plants to make your garden beautiful. Our design philosophy is to balance the height, width and colors of mature plants and to maximize your space with respect to your budget. Milkweed is the foundation plant of your garden. Colors include: orange, yellow, pink, white and purple. Liberal use of milkweed guarantee plenty of food for all five generations of Monarchs. We carefully select high nectar plants for your adult male and female Monarch butterflies. In order to keep the Monarchs you attract from May through October, we select plants that overlap blooming cycles. This keeps nectar available as fuel for six months.  

 

Fauna

While we focus on Monarchs - other visitors will visit your

garden. You can expect many other species of

butterflies along with honeybees, hummingbirds,

lacewings and praying mantis.

Ladybug larvae and ladybugs will devour aphids.

   

Along with the good of course you should expect many other visitors including: milkweed beetles, stink bugs, assassin bugs and yes, many many aphids. Aphids are likely the most visible and concerning for Monarch garden

owners. They seem to appear out of nowhere and, once you

have them, you'll have them until the first frost. While you

may fear they'll kill your milkweed, milkweed are durable

and are rarely impacted by the little yellow insects. If you

lose sleep over them, you can buy a spray bottle and shoot them off with plain water.

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While Monarch caterpillars are toxic, your garden will have a few predators that will kill them. Assassin bugs are the most likely insect to actively kill Monarch caterpillars. These pests can be removed by hand and discarded. A significant parasitic threat includes tachinid flies and parasitic wasps. There is nothing gardeners can do to prevent predators or parasites. This is why, in part, why female Monarchs lay between 300-500 eggs in her 4-week lifetime.

 

Garden Dynamics

The following events in your garden are nothing short of remarkable and reminds us: Nature finds a way.

 

Leaf Regeneration

As you've learned, milkweed is a hardy plant which is a good thing for Monarchs. In addition to a year-long onslaught of sucking aphids, hungry Monarch caterpillars chew morning, noon and night until nearly all the plant's leaves are gone. Just as one generation of caterpillars have eaten all they've needed to pupate, the plant sprouts new leaves just in time for the next generation of tiny caterpillars.

Below is a picture of an orange milkweed sprouting new leaves following a complete defoliation.

                                   Not only does Nature prepare for a new food supply for the

                                   next generation of baby Monarch caterpillars but it does                                                         so in a manner in which meets the needs of small mouth parts.

                                   Is it chance the 5th instar (largest) caterpillars ate the largest

                                   and toughest leaves which triggered new tender leaf growth 

                                   for female Monarch butterflies to target laying their next eggs?                                       

                                                Consult with us and we'll find out together.

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Monarchs Prepare their Food

Another incredible feat of Nature is how the Monarch caterpillar protects itself while eating. As you've learned, milkweed contains a large volume of sticky, milky latex-like sap. The sticky sap can be like glue and, if the Monarch caterpillar is not careful,  they can get stuck in the sap and die.

 

   

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If you see this happening to your milkweed, don't fret. It's actually a good sign: it means you have a happy Monarch caterpillar on your plant. Additionally, the cutting of the healthiest part of your milkweed stimulates the plant to regenerate additional stems below the cut producing a more full and stronger plant.

 

Looking for a Private Place to Change

As your caterpillars complete their 5th instar, they are plump and leave their host plant, the milkweed. Their search is for a place to transform from a caterpillar to a butterfly. The most desirable place for the caterpillar to form their chrysalis include the following characteristics:  out of direct sun, wind and rain. Caterpillars will wander hundreds of feet from their feeding plant to find a quiet and discrete location at their own risk. We have created and offer the first safe haven for Monarch caterpillars.  

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                                                            Introducing the: 

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                                               Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar 

                                                        Changing Station 

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We offer consulting and installation of successful Monarch Gardens. This includes recommendations of 'garden peripherals'. These peripherals provide caterpillars and butterflies with protection, moisture and minerals in addition to food & fuel.