I was diagnosed in 1985 and have been trudging along ever since. I've had to reinvent myself several times. Now I raise monarch butterflies because of the dwindling population and endangered status of this fluttering beauty. It doesn't take a lot of time or mobility and each one is a joy to release. It gives me something to get up for every morning even when it's not the season yet, I know the next season will be coming.
So, I've written a book which will launch tonight. I hope many of you will decide to try this therapeutic hobby!
I raise butterflies over in the U.K. Harry and Charlie my grandsons collect the caterpillars then we nurture them until ready for release. It’s very rewarding 🦋
Oh, that is wonderful! Every year the garden center near my house "sells" monarchs that you can release there, but I keep missing the weekend that it's scheduled.
I SO agree! @Buttermom I raised them for years, where it got just plain silly trying to keep enough milkweed to keep caterpillars fed. And then moving them into screen porch to protect them from wasps and lizards. But the beauty of watching them spin their chrysalises and then seeing them emerge into butterflies 2 weeks later is magical. 🎊
wow sounds fantastic....great and wonderful to help them..this great good for you for helping them and in the same time is helping you ...love and much happiness...
I'm trying. I have an open 1/2? acre that I'm just letting grow. I did try planting flowers, but none of the seeds came up and the plants I put in didn't come back. So, I'm just leaving it alone for now. I have a large patch of thistle and quite a bit of yarrow that have come up on their own.
I had goldfinches galore last year and a handful of butterflies, but I did think we had a couple monarchs flitting around. I'm hoping to transplant the neighbor's milkweed this year, because he mows it all off, and I haven't been able to get any to grow. I've never had a green thumb!
If he's got common milkweed, it can't be transplanted. Some other kinds can. Here's a link that you can use to get free milkweed seed. If you're on Facebook, you can join The Beautiful Monarch group and a lot of the members will give you free seed. Some of the seeds can take a couple of years to establish, so you may not see them right after you plant them. Keep trying. livemonarch.com/free-milkwe...
Oh, dear, but thank you for that advice. And maybe I'm just being too impatient. I did get some seeds from my aunt 2 years ago, but I haven't seen any signs that they grew. I've always liked milkweed for itself. Knowing it's good for monarchs is just an added bonus!
I love milkweed! One of the easiest to grow is "hairy balls." When you see the seed pods, you'll know why it has such a silly name. It's an annual, but self seeds. It comes up quickly and my butters love it. It doesn't have the fragrant flowers of some of them, but is a great one for an easy start.
What a wonderful thing for you to do! I am definitely downloading your book! I’m landscaping my friend’s yard in xeriscape and need a butterfly friendly suggestion?
Thank you! The paperback is actually better because you can see the photos in more detail. Kindle does a really funky job on formatting anything with photos.
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