Holy eggs and cats!!!

[reggorf]

So, I have a few caterpillars in my butterfly house that I collected locally. I was checking on them out on my deck and I saw a Monarch flitting around in my back yard. I ran out there and watch her lay a bunch of eggs for about 20 minutes. I went out today to collect the eggs. I found 71 eggs. Holy moly. I don't think I will have enough milkweed to feed the next round of cats in the fall. I have over 100 eggs/cats/chrysalis right now. I am gonna be busy. I moved all my potted milkweed onto the deck. I will be moving it into the butterfly house as the cats get bigger. They are inside in small containers now so I can keep an eye on them. YAY!!!

[dandjtaylor]

I always supplement my home grown with wild common (washed of course). The large leaves of the common go a long way when they reach 4th and 5th. Even now this early, I go out every week and collect about 100 leaves. I always take a leaf that has a shoot coming off of the stem. THat way, within a few days, there's another branch forming with tender foliage that will be attractive to egg laying females. Taking one or two leaves from a healthy plant causes the plant to put forth more healthy and green leaves and is actually beneficial for the monarchs.

[reggorf]

I have released 5 butterflies so far and I have about 65 in chrysalis right now. I am going to be releasing like crazy in the next few weeks. I hope my milkweed grows back enough for the next round of cats.