Dear Monarch friends, Well, it continues to be an interesting summer weather and climate wise. How are your plants holding out? What about the caterpillar population? Despite the seemingly incessant rain, heat and humidity, Monarch caterpillars in my garden did … Continue reading →
Dear Monarch friends, It’s been an odd summer here weather-wise, and the garden is responding in unpredictable ways. The swamp milkweed bloomed, is going to seed, leaves are drooping, and some of the plants are infested with a variety of insects that … Continue reading →
Dear Monarch friends, A small and enthusiastic group met in my garden on July 19. Together, we were able to identify a healthy number of Monarch eggs and instars on my Swamp Milkweed plants. Participants left feeling more confident knowing what … Continue reading →
Hello Monarch Friends, With days on end of rain, I have wondered how butterflies fare in adverse weather conditions. I do notice that my flowers are swarming with butterflies and other pollen-loving insects whenever the sun shines, but those moments … Continue reading →
Dear Monarch friends,Now that the Monarch(s) officially arrived in my garden, I would like to invite you to participate in informal monitoring with me. I will offer one workshop/week and, so that we can gather together comfortably outside, I will … Continue reading →
Dear Monarch Friends,Just after I sent you this afternoon’s message, I went outside and noticed little dots on the flower buds of one of the swamp milkweed plants. That lone female Monarch got right to work. They are Monarch eggs! … Continue reading →
Hello Monarch Friends! Here it is, July 7, and just as I was ready to give up hope, a beautiful female Monarch showed up, sampling nectar from a variety of flowers, perhaps checking out the egg laying potential. I checked my … Continue reading →
Some trials and tribulations by John Anderson – A Letter from Grandpa Nature Monarch butterflies are distasteful to birds. They contain alkaloids called cardiac glycosides which make any bird consuming one retch, vomit, drool copiously and, in general, act very, … Continue reading →
Dear new and returning Dummerston Monarch Welcoming Committee,Saturday, June 19th was the official start of our 2021 project. I spent three hours at the beautiful Bunker Farm distributing swamp milkweed plants (free, thanks to an AVCC grant), saying hello to … Continue reading →
The DCC was awarded a highly competitive 2021 Tiny Grant of $500 from the Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions (AVCC). As one of seven recipients in the state, the DCC will expand the second year of its project – Inviting … Continue reading →
