Trips to Biosphere

Had to make another run for scarlet milkweed...we have purchased now 11 (3) gallon plants in the last couple of weeks. Crazy how much the monarch cats eat. Big and fat they are getting. It still wasn't enough. I had 4 little ones who just weren't going to get enough food so I had to bring them over to a neighbors. She had a bunch of new leaves for them. Made me very happy. I hope they got nice and fat. While making milkweed runs I made sure to squeeze in a couple shots of the pretty flowers at the nursery (I asked permission and they were so nice to allow me). I got a few great shots of their awesome nursery. Biosphere Nursery is on Tilden Road in Winter Garden and everything is pesticide free. Such a great place. Love going there and just wandering around staring at all the beauty.

The Monarchs Rule!

The Monarchs are here, there, everywhere, and I see two of them. They are dancing and flirting in the air. They love the Jatropha for nectar, and the female is using the Milkweed to lay eggs. I see eggs on the leaves, and I see some holes on the leaves. Soon caterpillars. Going to have to get more milkweed. My neighbor is reporting her dozen chrysalises are emerging today. Yeah! They're trying their hardest to make a big come back this year. Go Monarchs! We're rooting for you! I am reporting my sightings at lerner.org.

Good article on planting Milkweed
http://blogs.discovery.com/bites-animal-planet/2014/08/plant-milkweed-for-monarchs.html

And today... Hot of the Press!
"...a legal petition today to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking Endangered Species Act protection for monarch butterflies, which have declined by more than 90 percent in under 20 years."

source:
http://www.xerces.org/after-90-percent-decline-federal-protection-sought-for-monarch-butterfly-2/