Monday, March 3, 2008

It's Spring Somewhere


If it doesn't feel like spring where you are, maybe this will be a note of encouragement. While we sit here in northwest Ohio under yet another winter storm warning and listen to the freezing rain hit the windows, the Monarchs are on the move.

Our Little Acre is a certified Monarch Waystation and as such, receives periodic news from Monarch Watch. They tell us that the Monarchs began mating in Mexico at their overwintering sites in mid-February. The first weary and ragged travelers will begin showing up later this week in Texas. It will be the offspring of those that will make their way to our garden here.


Sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in what's going on right around us that we sometimes forget that we're just a small speck in the grand scheme of things.


17 comments:

Sky said...

these photos are amazing. it must be exciting to anticipate these visitors each year.

so sorry to hear about your weather, especially on primary eve....but you guys have to go vote tomorrow. slide into the voting sites tuesday, even if your dogs pull the sleds! we are all watching and waiting! :))

Beth said...

What an encouraging post and beautiful pictures. It's nice to be reminded of the wonders of spring--even if its still a long way off for Maine.

Frances, said...

Now that is very exciting news. Even with your colder weather, the thought of the monarchs coming must make your heart beat a little faster and your lips turn up at the edges to form a large smile!

Frances at Faire Garden

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Oh Kylee, just seeing all of this color makes my heart jump for joy. It won't be long now.

I am going ot try to get some more monarch host plants going this summer.

Are you one of those that tag Monarchs? Have you ever found one you or someone else has tagged?

CanadianGardenJoy said...

I love those pictures !
Helps brighten up my snow filled GRAY day here in south east Ontario where it is all snow and still snow here !
Joy

Sherry at the Zoo said...

We get many, many butterfly visitors to our garden and flower beds each year, and I love the idea of attracting more, but this last summer the cats spent their days catching them and bringing them to us. "Butterfly alert" was heard often every day, which was code for "rescue that butterfly." We would gently pick them up and carry them back outside and place them in one of the flower pots that sit on the railing, then watch for the next few hours to see if it would recover and move on.

Your pictures are fabulous!

Rosie's Whimsy said...

It is an amazing journey and i anticipate their arrival. I imagine the Hummingbirds are on the move, too. They always make me smile :-) Rosie

Dave said...

Very nice pictures! Butterflies are fun to watch. I hope you do a post on how you attract them. What kind of plants you use etc.

Entangled said...

I rarely see Monarchs here, despite having planted Asclepias tuberosa and lots of nectar plants. Last summer I was thinking of adding additional Asclepias species and then promptly forgot all about it - thanks for the reminder!

Anonymous said...

Awesome! I'll start keeping my eyes open for monarchs down here. :)

Connie said...

Awesome photo of the monarch butterfly...on what looks like Zowie zinnia?
Spring is in the air here, and it is soooo welcome!

A wildlife gardener said...

Exquisite photo of the monarchs..just so beautiful :)

Benjamin Vogt said...

Ah. I'm preparing to get certified with Monarch Watch, and was just on their cite yesterday. I'm hoping the local nurseries have several milkweed varities this spring so I can hit the gorund running, otherwise I guess I'll try some late seeding and hope for enxt year. I had several monarchs for my first year stop by, adult of course in early fall on their way south. Who knew they liked Nebraska?

beckie said...

Very informative post! I knew about the migration of monarchs, but not about the way stations. I have marked the spot and am considering participating. We see a lot of them here in our butterfly garden.

Randy said...

I love butterflies, I hope we have tons of them this year. Beautiful pictures!

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

Thank you for that wonderful reminder of what matter most, Kylee! I am anxiously awaiting my first monarch sighting of the year!

Hugs,
Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage

Shady Gardener said...

Thank you, Kylee, for access to the Monarch Waystation site. I'm checking into it. I'd love to be able to "official." :-) I already have butterfly milkweed and other host plants. I'm hoping I can get a small version of the Butterfly bush this spring! My second-graders and I always studied the Monarch, fed caterpillars and released butterflies each fall.

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