Happy day!

[earthmandala]

Hi all I hope some of you have the patience to read through this account, this is a long happy message from a kibbutz the north of israel! We have here in the late summer july-aug-sept Danaus chrysippus (African Monarch) and in winter this kind seems to stay over in the Dead sea desert areas.

2 years ago I brought butterflyweed from Florida and this caught on very nice in my garden...allthough the monarchs preferred always in the fields near the water resevoir and did not come to gardens. Until this year. To my surprise in November I found small caterpillars on the plants. I had to collect them cause it was becoming very cold and put 7 total in different sizes under one of those plastic bags you buy here down blankets in.
I made a whole construction over a tall plant with sticks etc....the result was a kind of look through housing swaying on the elements.

Disasters happened but I ended up with 3 pupae which were a nice light pink cream and attached to the walls of the covering. It was getting worse and worse weatherwise. Take them inside?..I decided not..

I bought a 2 person mesquito net in an outdoor equipment store and somehow attached this over the biggest cluster of butterfly weed. There I placed a laundry basket and the blanketcovering with the 3 pupae inside. I cut it open so there was enough air and coveered the net with a plastic sheet on bad days.

Anyways......are you still with me?

2 days ago I saw the second pupa changing color to blackish and this continued over 2 days, and the first pupa started too.

This morning my first monarch was born and right now it is still hanging drying the wings. I am preparing a webpage with images (I am a webdesigner and also amateur photographer) and soon hope to post the link. Thanks for all info shared on Monarch Watch this is an enormous help .! Warm greetings from Anika!

[Teresa]

I can't wait to see your pics!! Please post a link when your done

[freda]

earthmandala, where did you go???? I'm relatively new to this forum and have been reading EVERYTHING. I was really looking forward to your update and website!