Monarch Butterfly – Hellstrip Heaven

Three Indoors, Two Outdoors

The smallest caterpillar just completed a molt. This period between molts is called an instar. The medium caterpillar is eating milkweed and gaining size. The largest caterpillar has become plump. I think that she may pupate soon! Outdoors, the curled caterpillar became a chrysalis. He is hanging beneath a milkweed leaf on the Hellstrip. And,Continue reading “Three Indoors, Two Outdoors”

First Monarch Eclose

On July 30th, I found this nice large caterpillar on our milkweed. By August 3rd, the caterpillar formed her chrysalis. Amazingly, on August 10th, I was greeted by the flutter of wings! So quick! We took the butterfly outside, but she was not ready to fly. On the following day, she was eager to beContinue reading “First Monarch Eclose”

First Monarch Caterpillars of 2022

July 23rd – first Monarch caterpillar of the year! It is always exciting to find one of these elusive beauties, but the first one is something special . I handed this treasure over to my 9 year old next door neighbor. I provided her with a mesh enclosure and lots of direction. She participated inContinue reading “First Monarch Caterpillars of 2022”

Two Large, Three Small, One Hatchling, Five Chrysalids

Exciting changes in the Monarch enclosure! Yesterday, I woke up to three new chrysalids. One was hidden in a precarious place. It was attached to a wilting milkweed stalk. Thanks to the advice of two of my friends, I was able to remove the branch and sew it to the top of the mesh enclosure.Continue reading “Two Large, Three Small, One Hatchling, Five Chrysalids”

Six Large, Two Small, One Egg, One Chrysalis, One Hope

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/un-sounds-clarion-call-over-irreversible-climate-impacts-by-humans-2021-08-09/ Human action has long impacted the environment. The U.N. report provides compelling evidence linking human activity to climate change. The scale of this study is so staggering. It is easy to feel hopeless – unable to help with a problem of such magnitude. Perhaps big changes need to begin with small steps – Or,Continue reading “Six Large, Two Small, One Egg, One Chrysalis, One Hope”