For the last three years, we have been cultivating swamp milkweed and other pollinator-friendly plants for the express goal of supporting monarch butterflies, as well as bees. The moment we have been waiting for has nearly arrived. Today I spotted our first monarch chrysalis.
Diligently, we've been monitoring the six monarch caterpillars that have been munching on our swamp milkweed and butterfly weed (also a variety of milkweed). Yesterday I was sad to only find a few left...and I couldn't locate the one that I thought looked biggest and was curling up to move into its next phase. Worry no longer, folks! The chrysalis is here. Now, if only I can keep on top of removing the oleander aphids that are killing the milkweed leaves...
In the past, we've seen a lot of the chrysalises at Reeves-Reed Arboretum and at the Watchung Reservation this time of year.
If anyone would like milkweed seeds, let me know. I've got extras and it's a very easy plant to grow.
To remove the oleander aphids, just take a small piece of paper towel and squish them. See what they look like below: they are the yellow dots on the butterfly weed seed pod.
Comments