Butterfly Garden for Christmas gifts

It's time to think of your gardener friends and loved ones! Give them the gift they will enjoy for years to come. Social Butterflies offers "Wing It!" kits for those who love butterflies and want to attract them to their yards. The kit includes detailed instructions on the requirements of butterflies, how to attract many different species, and 10 packets of free, organically-grown seeds guaranteed to entice lots of beautiful butterflies next season. Only $25.00, shipping included. Please see www.socialbtrflies.com/gardening.html for further information. You may also call Social Butterflies at 434.823.3666 to order.

Last Variegated Frit of the season

I released the last Variegated Fritillary two days ago. Two had formed their chrysalises over a month ago and they were kept in the coolness of the garage. Since it was a warm day with the promise of a few more warm days, I released it. There are still chrysanthemums blooming, so there are a few nectar sources left. The tropical milkweed and lantana has frozen. The passionvine is also about gone for this year. It has been a good butterfly season here in Central Virginia.

Monarch Watch wants school participation in space shuttle

Monarch caterpillars will be sent to the International Space Station on Nov. 16 in a small rearing chamber. This chamber will be placed in an incubator where the developing monarchs will be monitored. Still and video cameras will continually capture images, which will be made available online.

If a school or classroom (east of the Rocky Mtns) wants to participate, please contact monarch@ku.edu before 5 p.m. this Friday (Nov. 6). Monarch Watch will send a special monarch larva kit to participating schools. The kit costs $17.95 and the overnight shipping will be an additional $26, for a total of $43.95. The kit consists of (6) 3rd instar larvae on artificial diet and additional cups of diet. Three larvae will be loaded into the rearing chamber. Additional instructions will be provided regarding feeding. Material is included regarding monarchs as they face a nearly weightless environment of the ISS.

If your school is chosen, the students will be able to follow the shuttle mission to the space station and the development of the monarchs in space for at least two weeks. Contact Monarch Watch for more info.

A wedding butterfly release

Here's a blog that discusses a couple who released butterflies at their wedding:
heatherhelvey.blogspot.com/2009/11/wedding-butterflys.html

Social Butterflies' last monarch!

My last raised Monarch of 2009 finally emerged today. I will release it in two days when the sun returns and it is a bit warmer. I don't have any more tags left to tag it, but I will wish it adios and good luck on its journey to Mexico. I have conducted numerous Monarch tagging classes this fall and they are becoming more popular with library patrons, school children, and anyone who is interested in Monarch migration. I also gave a program at the Association For Butterflies symposium last weekend on migration and the attendees were able to tag their own Monarchs. Since it was chilly and overcast, I sent them south with one of the directors of the Association to release them where it was warmer. I collected common milkweed seeds yesterday in the field. It will be about 6 more months before I'll start raising Monarchs again.

Many Monarchs!

I have been raising Monarchs all season, but just in the past 2 weeks, I've been seeing a big increase of wild ones laying eggs on my Tropical Milkweed. I am overflowing with Monarchs now....feeding them 4 times/day, getting up in the middle of the night to cut more milkweed. The big ones aren't picky....they eat the Tropical, Swamp, and Common. They are definitely keeping me busy and Social Butterflies will benefit from having more monarchs to sell! Please see my website www.socialbtrflies.com to purchase your monarchs. My friends who have Tropical Milkweed are also reporting they have a lot of caterpillars to feed. There are many nectar plants in bloom also: Butterfly bush, Verbena, Goldenrod, Joe Pye Weed, and Lantana. I have several monarch tagging programs lined up in September. Butterfly season ends in Central Virginia around the middle of October.

The Association For Butterflies www.forbutterflies.org is holding its second annual symposium in October in Townsend, TN this year. Check out the website for more information. You don't need to be a butterfly farmer to attend. Townsend is close to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, some of the most beautiful places to see the leaves turn colors in the fall. The AFB will also be offering the online Monarch Tagging class again, beginning the second week in September.

My first Mourning Cloaks

I ordered some Mourning Cloak pupae from a butterfly breeder in CA. One emerged yesterday and it is big and beautiful. I have never seen one except in books. I've always looked for them when I take walks, but have been unsuccessful. Then, yesterday, as I was talking on the phone, I looked out the window and there was another one, clinging to the screen! What a coincidence! I now know that they exist around here. I'd like to raise some in the future and maybe try some in a butterfly release. I've heard they don't make good release butterflies because they tend to play dead instead of flying away.