We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. ~Maya Angelou
Funny how things happen sometimes. I was looking through posts on Nextdoor looking for contractor recommendations when I happened upon an interesting post. “I released #119 today!” Pam from East Englewood exclaimed. Looking further into the post to see what was released revealed monarch butterflies. Apparently, this fascinating woman was raising and releasing Monarch butterflies from egg to newly hatched butterfly! I have to look more into what she meant by #119…whether that was a number or if she released that many in one day?
Being in full swing with the new garden plans, I thought, hmm, what the heck? Take on one more project, why not!? I decided to go to a nursery that I had not gone to yet, the next day. Hazeltine Nurseries in Venice, Florida. Interestingly enough, in December 2020, Venice was named a Monarch City! Basically, this means that it is officially a city that has made a commitment to help support the Monarch Butterfly population to recover and grow. What better place to go to get the milkweed that I would need to start this new project?!
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So, I started the research that evening and vowed to go to Hazeltine’s the next day. The next day, I went out to the lanai to water the plants there and in the garden. There was a butterfly inside the lanai! It wasn’t a monarch but that didn’t matter, I thought it was a beautiful indication that I was going in the right direction. Then, something even more special happened. I reached out to the butterfly and it walked right up onto my hand! Thankfully I had my phone with me, so I was able to have a quick clip of the butterfly on my hand. It wasn’t focused very well, but that was okay. I was more focused on the butterfly than the phone. Regardless, it was a super special thing. I kept trying to help it get out of the lanai and it didn’t really seem to want to go at first, but after a few minutes, it finally took off.
Following the butterfly encounter, I went off to the nursery to get the milkweed. There is so much construction on River Rd., where the nursery is located. Using the GPS, even though I knew about where it was, helped immensely. The nursery itself is wonderful and I am looking forward to going back. They have a massive selection of plants, flowers, and trees–including Christmas Trees.
I spent time wandering, taking it all in but very intent on finding milkweed. It didn’t take very long. All I had to do was stand back and scan the property. As soon as I was able to see where all the butterflies were, I knew I found the milkweed! So many butterflies, white peacock butterflies, a yellow variety that I am not sure of yet, and of course, the monarchs. I started to inspect the plants to see if there were eggs on any of the leaves, boy was there! I expected to find a few but each plant had several. Then, much to my delight, I found a caterpillar!
Going through the remainder of the plants, I found two more “cats” and many eggs. I was very happy with my selection of six milkweed plants. I also found a bird of paradise that I wanted and was happy to head home with my “babies”. Then a sweet couple looking over plants while I was there asked me about the milkweed. I told them that they were what the monarchs wanted and showed them how to look for eggs. They were pretty excited and decided to choose two plants for themselves–with quite a few eggs.
I was very pleased with the visit and was excited to get them home. I know I have quite a bit to do already but I just had to get them. I really felt compelled to not only plant milkweed but also to attempt to raise some of them myself. Considering the fact that they have such a low rate of making it through all of the cycles, I really wanted to help.
Many gardeners are aware that most things in the garden are considered experiments. This is yet another experiment for what was becoming the new garden. I felt that this was a wonderful way to add another element of transformational beauty to the garden. I already planned to plant a lot more flowers to attract all the pollinators. I just had no idea that I was going to be moved to do this.
After getting the plants home, as I suspected, I found more. I found more eggs. I could hardly believe my good fortune. I set up a couple of enclosures for the two stages that there were and another for some eggs.
By the next morning, there were newly hatched caterpillars. I cleaned out the enclosures and supplied new leaves for them. They all seemed to have grown overnight! I learned that their life cycles are quicker in warmer areas. Soon, we’ll see how quickly they move through each “instar”. So, that’s it for now…I just wanted to share that. I really hope I don’t become the all-new kind of crazy “cat” lady!
(I will put more about this and probably make this part a separate post in the upcoming days but right now there is one in chrysalis! The first picture is eating, the second is the final shedding and the last is the chrysalis it is now in! I was so disappointed that it happened overnight as I slept. I so wanted to get the video…next time.)
Monarch Caterpillar
Fifth Instar Shedding
Chrysalis
I will be making more posts about this exciting new facet of the garden. You can see more regarding Project Monarch here. Meanwhile, here is a great resource if you happen to be interested in learning more about raising monarchs:
More grows in the garden than the gardener sows. – Spanish proverb
I was in my garden today, working on removing the last two containers that had surviving plants. One cayenne pepper and one jalapeño pepper were the only surviving plants that were within my garden enclosure. All else was destroyed. I am still working on trying to revive some marigolds, and another cayenne, but other than that, no other food made it that I have been able to see. Oh, except, possibly all the pineapple plants–about 20. There are still parts of my fence that are covering okra and other things but I am all but certain that just the new weeds are all that is there.
I have been putting off moving those two plants because I knew how happy they were there. I also knew that they were so incredibly strong together to have weathered the storm. Additionally, they occupied the space where all my peppers have grown-“Pepper Lane” I called it. Moving them meant that Pepper Lane was no more. So, it made me a little sad at first. I had to remind myself, as I moved those two precious peppers, I am making a new garden. In order to make that new garden I have to completely change what was. It no longer served me in its present condition. As I moved them to their new “temporary” home, I vowed to make a new Pepper Lane for them, only now, I think I’ll call it “Pepper Place”.
Certainly, none of this would matter to anyone else, and perhaps they wouldn’t understand. However, it really brought me to tears. In a good way actually. After I moved them, I was reaching in to remove some leaves from the cayenne and noticed a bunch of peppers on a broken branch. At least I can continue to ripen them inside. Then, however, I was doing the same with the jalapeño and started finding all of these peppers that were grown! I was very excited by this. I have been so busy that I didn’t notice that it has been fruiting! Anyway, needless to say, I am very, very happy about this. This particular pepper was one that had just given me its first 2 very delicious peppers before Ian came for a visit.
While I have always known it on some level, it really hit me hard today. A garden is so much more than the seeds we plant, the plants that grow, and the food or flowers that those efforts yield. A garden is a special place. It is not here just for us. It is here for all the magnificent life force that chooses to enter it. It is there for the butterflies, the dragonflies, all the good bugs and all the bad bugs, and of course, all the bees. However, I believe, on some level that it is there as an energy stream. I feel that all of the good, loving energy that we pour into our gardens offers a space for “other” energy.
In 2020, I lost two very important people in my life. My father (stepdad but really my dad), and one of my very best friends. I had a spot in the garden for each of them. It wasn’t something I really talked about, it was just something that was private to me. I knew that these special places were places that I hoped–if it was possible, that their energy might come to visit somehow. I held that space for them. The storm destroyed those spaces. Or did it?
I have to remind myself that those spaces, too, like Pepper Lane, will be reborn. The energy, love, and dedication are all still there. When I went to the garden today to work on things, there was a dragonfly on part of the fencing that was left from Pepper Lane. I slowly reached towards it and it not only allowed me to touch its leg but climbed onto my finger. I was, as I often am in my garden, in awe. That dragonfly looked at me and I looked at it for a few moments and then he went on its merry way. Yes, the energy, whatever it is, is absolutely still there. Going forward that energy, joy, and space to welcome all the critters will not be confined to an 18’x27′ enclosure. Instead, it is growing to be the entire yard.
As gardeners, we invest so much in our gardens. Not just to feed ourselves, our families, our friends, and others but to feed our very souls. Our garden gives us soul food that feeds us so much more than anything that comes from it ever could. That was the reminder that I needed today. Thank you. Have a Bee-autiful Day!
