The garden (aka the Butterfly Cafe) is very active the past couple of weeks. Everything is lush and gorgeous and we are just loving it.
I"ll start with the bad news, we had two Monarchs born with deformed wings today. I am not sure why this happens except I have read if they don't break from the crysalis in a timely manner, it can occur.
I also wonder if they are born in the shade, unable to get the sun quick to dry out their wings, or fall into a bad position and don't get into the right position quick enough to fill their wings with blood, will this cause their little wings to harden unformed? Or, is this natures way of taking care of too many Monarchs being born in one area? We have so many Monarchs and only so much food. The food does recycle itself, but maybe mother natures knows what is going on exactly here at the Butterfly Cafe?
I know a healthy butterfly is either in position already right out of the crysalis (because they did not fall) or falls and gets into position quick, filling its wings fully within a minute or two.
As usual, both disabled Monarchs were born around the 10 am to 11 am time frame just like all the healthy others I have seen. I guess they are on a time clock. Morning births when the sun is up and high enough to allow them plenty of time to fill their wings, dry out, rest, and get adjusted to their new home before the day is over.
What I am sharing with you is not the sad photo of a deformed Monarch ... that my friend is just my rather sad but real story that happened here at the Butterfly cafe.
There is lots of happiness and extraordinary beauty in the garden. Here is a perfectly formed, beautiful Palamedes Swallowtail feeding on the favorite amongst most, the Zinnia's.
I"ll start with the bad news, we had two Monarchs born with deformed wings today. I am not sure why this happens except I have read if they don't break from the crysalis in a timely manner, it can occur.
I also wonder if they are born in the shade, unable to get the sun quick to dry out their wings, or fall into a bad position and don't get into the right position quick enough to fill their wings with blood, will this cause their little wings to harden unformed? Or, is this natures way of taking care of too many Monarchs being born in one area? We have so many Monarchs and only so much food. The food does recycle itself, but maybe mother natures knows what is going on exactly here at the Butterfly Cafe?
I know a healthy butterfly is either in position already right out of the crysalis (because they did not fall) or falls and gets into position quick, filling its wings fully within a minute or two.
As usual, both disabled Monarchs were born around the 10 am to 11 am time frame just like all the healthy others I have seen. I guess they are on a time clock. Morning births when the sun is up and high enough to allow them plenty of time to fill their wings, dry out, rest, and get adjusted to their new home before the day is over.
What I am sharing with you is not the sad photo of a deformed Monarch ... that my friend is just my rather sad but real story that happened here at the Butterfly cafe.
There is lots of happiness and extraordinary beauty in the garden. Here is a perfectly formed, beautiful Palamedes Swallowtail feeding on the favorite amongst most, the Zinnia's.
