Apr 08 2010
Monarch Butterflies
Monarch Butterfly
Monarch butterflies are totally fascinating to me, this butterfly actually migrates like some birds do. They fly south for the winter and fly back each spring. Monarch butterflies have to made of tough stuff to do all of that flying. Most butterflies are so delicate that a strong wind will literally rip their wings off.
Monarch butterflies will use many flowers for nectar, such as Zinnias and Butterfly Bushes, but they will only use plants in the milkweed family as host plants to lay their eggs on. I have three different types of milkweed in my butterfly garden. There is the orange Butterfly Weed, the pink swamp milkweed, and the white milkweed. I have so many different kinds to help the Monarch butterflies, they are losing their natural feeding & breeding areas to mankind’s development of the planet. I want them to multiply so that future generations will know the pleasure I feel when I watch the Monarch butterflies in my garden.
Monarch butterflies are beautiful creatures that are very distinctive, if you ever see one up close you will know why they are called a “royal butterfly”. Their wings are a brownish orange with black veins, and a black band along the edge with white speckles. There is another butterfly which tries to copy the Monarch Butterflies, it is called the Viceroy butterfly. It has the same brownish orange on it’s wings but it doesn’t have the black band with white speckles.
Seeing Monarch butterflies in my garden is always a special treat for me. I have always been fond of them, they look so graceful as they go from flower to flower. In my butterfly garden the Monarch butterflies seem to prefer the Butterfly Bushes, Zinnias, Goldenrods, and Asters.
Even though they are known for their migrations, I have yet to see a flock of Monarch butterflies in the fall. Whenever I see one, I look to see if there are any more around. They evidently don’t flock through our area of western North Carolina, but I will keep watching and maybe one day I will see a flock of Monarch butterflies flying south!
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