I can hardly believe it! Let me jump for joy!! All the hope, intent and persistence is finally being rewarded and I’m really, really, really excited!!
I love butterflies, but then who doesn’t, right? I built my herbal garden with the intention of attracting both butterflies and bees,* and this year the garden has been particularly successful. I’ve seen 3 different varieties of butterflies, two of which were new to me, as well as some species of bumblebee I hadn’t noticed before. But I am particularly fond of Monarchs. They intrigue me and I feel their story is important to our survival in some way, though I can’t say why or how [My intuition has spoken].
Every year for the past 10 years, as Spring blossoms, so does my anticipation and hope for the Monarch Butterfly migration to begin. Each spring day has the possibility of seeing one of these orange and black beauties as they migrate North. They are the only butterfly that exhibits that behavior. In the spring they leave their home in Mexico to begin their annual diaspora across two specific northbound pathways, along the eastern and western edges of the midwest. In late summer they began their return trip, looking for places to breed. But there’s the rub.
They are special, both in behavior and in breeding needs. They are what is known as a specialist species, requiring a very specific set of conditions, in their case their babies need Milkweed. It is the only that plant their babies can eat. Finding some, they will lay eggs and continue back to Mexico where they cluster together in the thousands to keep warm enough to survive the winter.
But that plant, which used to grace so many roadsides, has dwindled to the point of endangering the species. So much construction, where they practically sterilize the site of seed and stem, has crippled the reseeding of lost breeding grounds. It is a hardy plant, but it needs a year or so to get going. I planted some in my yard years ago and I struggle to keep it confined to one area, as it clearly wants my entire stamp sized backyard.
Despite the buffet I keep laid out for them, I haven’t been fortunate enough to see one visit my garden. But today, as I’m leaving for the market, I see a beautiful flash of orange. I leapt out of my car to grab a picture, telling it to go to the backyard where the milkweed patch is located. It flew off in the opposite direction and I sighed with disappointment as I drove away.
But it seems this is indeed the day my patience and intent are to be rewarded. While sitting here trying to decide which of the 18 blog ideas I’ve begun I’ll actually finish, that orange beauty came back. I set my laptop aside and ran to the rail of my deck where I watched her fly from one milkweed plant to another. My heart is full, my intent reaching fruition. What a wonderful harvest!
We HAVE Monarch!!!!
*Any passing fairy is happy to take up residence as well.
Broomstick Musings 