A one-frame day.
My largest patch of butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), planted two years ago. Last year I discovered Monarch caterpillars in early May, completely missing the visits of the egg-laying females. Now that the plants are leafing, I hope to see the whole process unfold, and will endeavor to find a way to protect the caterpillars from predators. I recently rescreened all 17 windows and I have an almost-full roll of screen wire that turned out to be the wrong color. Perhaps I can fabricate something with the fiberglass screen for the week or two between egg-hatching and chrysalis-spinning…
Retired economics professor (“dismal scientist”). Married 40+ years to the love of my life; we have two grown daughters, both married, two granddaughters and a...
This produces beautiful flowers. I have the more common type of milkweed. I have a question. Will you put the screen over all the plants? I have tried to look for the eggs of the Monarchs and I have been unsuccessful. I will keep trying. Best of luck with this project:)
@kathyladley Yes, screen completely over the plants. Well, as completely as I can. I'll have to figure out a way to weigh the ends and edges down to the ground as close as possible. I'm thinking of stapling the screen wire to lengths of 2×2s. My master gardener friend says it's not easy to get butterflies (or Monarchs in particular) to the chrysalis stage. But I *am* going to try!
