Monarch Watch Release, Proud Lake, Michigan

The group drove from the library to Proud Lake, horse staging area, and there was a whole field of Milkweed. Butterflies of several varieties were flying around. While the children were having a fun running through the fields after butterflies, Diane was setting up the release station. She called in the children to start with the tagging, she showed us the tags. Each tag number could be traced back to give the information about the sex, where they were raised, if wild or  hand raised and where they were released. If found the person can call the number and give the tag number so the University can track the where abouts of the Monarchs.

Enjoy this video of a child experiencing the joy of releasing this beautiful Monarch butterfly. 

After all the children had released a butterfly, the adults were able to do the same. It came to my turn and the butterfly that I was given did not want to leave. It finally spread its wings and flew, right on to the forehead of  one of the parents. 

The people of Mexico, where the butterflies end their journey before returning back to the United States, collect the butterfly tags off the butterflies that die throughout the winter and fall on the ground. The University and the Conservation Stewards, pay 50 pesos for each tag. To the people of the small Mexican town, this is a source of income. The logging of the trees where the butterflies roost is no longer legal, so the butterflies are able to have a safer haven to return to in their Mexican town. 

Just before I left, this beautifully tagged Monarch, returned to the releasing station, as if to say goodbye. Goodbye, adios beautiful lady. Safe travels.

If you would like more information on the Monarch Watch, please go to their website. Plant a milkweed or necture plants to help keep this beautiful butterfly around for generations to come.

Remember the caterpillar I found on my Milkweed? Well, it is now a beautiful butterfly. I named her Lucille. I wish her safe passage to Mexico.

Monarch Watch and a Beautiful Saturday Afternoon

Diane explaining to me how to tag the butterfly.

My posting of August 10, 2012, ten days ago I am embarrassed to say, brought some attention. The reason I have been remiss on posting is that for the last 10 days, I have had daily, non stop,  an event or an engagement concerning Phragmites and their removal or another gardening or butterfly opportunities to attend. So, this is the catch up of the events. 

As I was saying, I posted, again, about the Monarch Watch. I received an email from a fellow daylily member of the Southern Michigan Daylily Society and in the subject line it stated: "Monarchs not Daylilies" from Diane Pruden. I had actually just seen Diane the day before at the Daylily Picnic. I never knew she was involved in Monarchs. She said she is a Conservation Specialist with Monarch Watch. She raises Monarch on her 1 1/2 acre property, of which some of it is planted in Milkweed, or Asciepias incarnata,  a food source, from egg to mature Monarch. She has traveled to Mexico and witnessed the Monarch migration. 

She explained that she was giving a talk at the Milford Public Library would I like to come. Well, she didn't have to ask me twice, I was there with cameras and tripod in tow. 

Diane explaining about the Monarch
Watch program.

When I arrived, already the tables were filling with families ready to learn about the beautiful butterfly. Diane explained about the organization and how we as citizens can help with the Way stations to help feed the Monarch along their long journey from Michigan to Mexico. According to Monarch Watch, because of loss of Milkweeds and nectar plants due to development and the widespread use of herbicides in croplands, pastures and roadsides, the Monarch numbers are decreasing. Monarch Watch is the work of Dr. Chip Taylor, University of Kansas and it's purpose is to engage citizen scientists to spread education, conservation and research through out the communities along the Monarch's flyways. Through our efforts to ensure the preservation of the species this unique phenomenon of the Monarch migration will continue. It is world wide, the United States has the furthest distances for the butterflies to fly each way. Creating a Way station can be as simple as adding milkweed and nectar plants to our existing gardens. 

 Diane brought several different examples of flowers that a citizen scientist can plant in their yard for the adult Monarchs to feed on once they have emerged from the chrysalis. She passed around Milkweed laden with chrysalises,(can you count the number on the stalk?), Cone flowers, Phlox, Butterfly Bush, Zinnias and Mexican Milkweed can be planted to attract several varieties of Butterflies. Diane explained that there are 3 types of Milk weeds in Michigan, Common Milkweed, Swamp Milkweed and Butterfly Milkweed.  There is Latex in the milky substance in the plant and the caterpillar absorbs this and tastes terrible to any one that tries to eat it. The caterpillar also knows how much it can eat without over doing because the latex makes it sleepy. 

She brought caterpillars for the each of the audience members to see and observe. The explanation of the metamorphic process was explained to the amazement of  us all. In a matter of 14 + days from caterpillar to adult butterfly. She taught us how to identify if the butterfly is a male or female, by a black spot on the veining on the wing. The spot means a male. She showed us how to tag the Butterflies to identify where they started their journey when and if they are found again. It takes a Monarch about 2 months to fly to Central Mexico. 

The group then proceeded from the Milford Library to Proud Lake, the horse staging area to tag and release the butterflies that Diane collected from the eggs she raised. Look for these pictures and video on Thursday. 

Monarch Butterfly Nursery

Monarch Caterpillar in my yard. 

On July 6, 2012, I posted a blog on the subject of  'Bring Back the Monarch Campaign".  I have planted Asclepias incarnata, Swamp Milk Weed in my yard just for the Monarchs. I saw several Monarch Butterflies land on the plant with the expectation of one to be a female laying eggs. I was rewarded last week with this fellow crawling around the leaves and voraciously eating them.

My neighbor has a huge patch of Milk Weed and actually raises several caterpillars to the butterfly stage, so I asked her what was her secret to having a successful Monarch Butterfly Nursery. She gave me a netted cage and instructed me to put the caterpillar in, keep it well supplied with misted Swamp Milkweed leaves and leave the rest to the caterpillar.

I followed her instructions. I could not believe how much that caterpillar could eat. 7, 8, 10 leaves a day and night. (Always slightly misted). Sunday, August 5th in the late, too dark to take pictures without a flash, late, the caterpillar went into its next stage. It was hanging upside down from the top of the carrier in the "J" position. I would not use a flash, I was afraid of disturbing the now transitioning caterpillar. My neighbor said by morning it would be a chrysalis. She and her family have actually witnessed the making of the chrysalis. The green gooey stuff the caterpillar surrounds itself with to make the chrysalis.

I couldn't wait until morning. I was not disappointed. The chrysalis was hanging where the caterpillar was the night before. . . and it is quite compact.

The treasured chrysalis !

I have learned it will take about two weeks for the transformation. I can hardly wait. I will share the pictures of the butterfly this caterpillar will evolve into.

Newly found caterpillar

Caterpillar Nursery

Today, August 10, 2012, I was out walking around after all the much needed rain we received, and found another Caterpillar on the Milk Weed. It is now in a nursery carrier, being fed leaves and on to becoming a butterfly.



If you would like to experience this amazing transformation, plant some Milk Weed. Be a part of the Monarch Recovery Program. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain by witnessing one of nature's truly amazing transformations.

Women Who Do Too Much.....

I have on my counter top the Page-A-Day Calendar my sister sends to me every year.
It is titled: "Women Who Do Too Much".  I am finally convinced that I am one of those women. As I tear off each day, I read the verse of the day. I have even shared the words of wisdom with my other driven friends, but I have never taken them too seriously. I must admit, this summer I am taking them very seriously.

Today's verse  for August 6, 2012 is:

GRATITUDE DAY

We can be grateful for everything that August offers: long, lingering days, still some time to play outside, the possibility of a mini vacation every day, the fruits of summer. 
Gratitude is so easy when practiced regularly. 

I truly thought about this one. I am grateful for the summer days like today. Mid 80's and NO HUMIDITY.
I am grateful for the time to play outside. My husband and I are doing the Friends of the Rouge, Tour of the Rouge River tomorrow with a group of friends to view first hand the improvements so many volunteers are doing to help the Detroit River and the Rouge River. The tour includes a dinner cruise and there is a narration by Dr. John Hartig of the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge. Dr. Hartig is the author of the book "Burning Rivers".

Phragmites Along Deer Lake Road, Clarkston, MI 

I am grateful for the group of people who came out to my home last evening to listen to Mike West and his presentation on removing Phragmites WITHOUT chemicals. The meeting is the start of the removal project of the Phragmites along Deer Lake Road, across from Deer Lake Beach. Yeah! I feel this group's existence started with the interested persons from Wild Ones, North Oakland Chapter and for me when the Board of Waldon Creek Subdivision and I removed the Phragmites on our common areas. Which led to The Oakland Press' article, meeting  Karen Workman and her help with teaching me how to blog.

I am grateful for all who are making changes. Margaret Mead said it so succinctly:
                 "Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. 
                                   Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has".

Thank you, who devote your time and energies so we can all enjoy the lingering summer days of August in this beautiful State of Michigan.