Monarch Butterflies - Have You Been Seeing Any????

IFALLSMICHELLE · #1 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 03:13 PM

We have not seen one Monarch butterfly here this summer. It is sad. We have lots of milkweed in our flower beds and no butterflies.

We have had a really cold, windy and wet summer, I wonder if that is why??

We live in Northern Minnesota.

If you don't mind sharing where you live, have you been seeing Monarchs?

My kids want to see the caterpillers so bad too. We had caterpillers 2 years ago on our milkweed. We did not have any last year either. Makes me wonder????

I am glad the hummingbirds are feeding on the milkweed flowers.

purplemoon2008 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 04:30 PM

We have them here in CT, but not nearly as plentiful as past summers. I have several large butterfly bushes which they totally love. Come to think of it, we don't have as many butterflies in general. Our hummers are going crazy too! We put up three feeders this year and I am forever having to fill them up! The newest feeder is on a shepherd's hook, screwed into our deck rail and that is our favorite, as we have a spectacular view while eating dinner or just relaxing on the deck

.

Oh...our weather in CT hasn't been that great (wet, cool spring). Actually June and July were pretty awful. Until yesterday (Monday) our only day that reached 90 degrees was April 28th

!

IFALLSMICHELLE · #3 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 04:41 PM

"Oh...our weather in CT hasn't been that great (wet, cool spring). Actually June and July were pretty awful. Until yesterday (Monday) our only day that reached 90 degrees was April 28th"

Sounds like you are having bad weather out East too this year.

Depressing weather for summer. For the first time in the past month, we hit 80 yesterday. I am hoping, hoping, hoping for a warm few weeks, otherwise it will feel like we did not have a summer at all this year.

I have basically had no butterflies of any type this year on my flowers. I miss not seeing them. I have lots of flowers for attracting butterflies too.

purplemoon2008 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 05:08 PM

I know. It stinks

. And I meant the day BEFORE yesterday. I was thinking today was Tuesday. See? The time is just flying by ~ I'm all confused! lol! It will be Autumn before we know it. I love Autumn, it's the cold, dreary months of Winter that I so dread.

queenofthehivemomof5 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 05:25 PM

I have seen a few...but not a lot (I am in Wyoming) I had one land on me yesterday and it sat on my finger for a few minutes before flying away. I think it was a Monarch..but I am no entomologist.

This year we are being plagued by grasshoppers...they are all over the place. One jumped on my face yesterday and ended up behind my glasses...FREEKED me out!

jtjohns · #6 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 05:34 PM

Very few butterflies in the Hudson Valley so far this summer -- some monarchs and swallowtails, but not nearly as many as we've had before. Very few dragonflies too, now that I think about it.

On the plus side, the fireflies have thrived in the cool rainy weather we've had -- normally they're done with the light show around the 4th July, but we're still seeing some in the garden now.

~JJ

IFALLSMICHELLE · #7 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 05:54 PM

"On the plus side, the fireflies have thrived in the cool rainy weather we've had -- normally they're done with the light show around the 4th July, but we're still seeing some in the garden now."

My kids would love to see them, I wish we had a few here.

"This year we are being plagued by grasshoppers...they are all over the place. One jumped on my face yesterday and ended up behind my glasses...FREEKED me out!"

Thankfully we don't have grasshoppers in large numbers!!!

thinkgreen · #8 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 08:41 AM

I'm in SWFL and they have been all over my Scarlet Milkweed. I've also found an empty cocoon. I've been seeing other varieties, such as swallowtails, as well. They make me happy.

IFALLSMICHELLE · #9 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 01:54 PM

"I'm in SWFL and they have been all over my Scarlet Milkweed. I've also found an empty cocoon. I've been seeing other varieties, such as swallowtails, as well. They make me happy."

I am glad to hear you have some there!!

OHeather · #10 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 11:41 PM

We usually get swallowtails at our house, and we've had about the same this year as in years past. Last year, while DS and I were picking blackberries, we saw a butterfly hatching out of its cocoon. It was a really amazing sight, and such an unexpected thing to see. How amazing to be there at the right time and just happen to glance over and notice it!