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Butterfly Garden

Johnny Sunflower seed

14 years ago

When I moved here over ten years ago I was fasinated by the Monarch fall migration . That first fall found a ball of monarchs about the size of my head roosting in the tree line on the back of the property. I noticed they seemed to follow the RR right of way and there were a few Maximilian Sunflower they liked to nectar on.

I dug some of those up the next spring and started a small patch on the border of my property where they were easy to water. After a few years I had a great little patch that numbered a few hundred.

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{{gwi:485239}}

The next photo is from today. They go as far as the eye can see into the pasture to the north. It's rarely cut or used at all, but I have altered habitat. I'm not sure if I've done a good thing or a bad thing. But I do know the wildlife loves it.

If you click on this photo two times, you should be a fairly large photo.

{{gwi:540774}}

randy

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Comments (7)

MissSherry
14 years ago
Those are beautiful, Randy!
Butterflies like to nectar on them, and I imagine that seed-eating birds love the seeds.
Are Johnny sunflowers the same as Maximilian sunflowers?
Sherry
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butterflymomok
14 years ago
Randy,
Or should I say, Johnny Sunflower seed, this will be the year to see how those sunflowers entice the Monarchs. Everything I hear is that central and eastern Oklahoma are not in the migration pathway. All the Monarchs are going to the west of us due to the strong easterly winds. I hope you get a roost. I'm also hoping for a small roost on my trees which are getting larger.

BTW, I love a field of sunflowers. Can't find too many things more glorious than when they are turned towards the sun.

Sandy
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MissSherry
14 years ago
Oops! I didn't get the joke! You're Johnny sunflower seed like Johnny appleseed - duh!
I still think your meadow is beautiful!
Sherry
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rjj1
Original Author
14 years ago
Sherry,

You are allowed to not get BAD jokes. :-)

Sandy,

I was seeing more monarchs in August than I am now. Guess that's what rain for 23 of the last 26 days does along with those east winds.

randy
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imabirdnut
14 years ago
Your field looks great!!! I bet you have a lot of other BFs even if the Monarchs aren't there!
I would love to have some Maximillian seeds. I have a ton of Golden Crownbeard--Cowpen Daisy. It is a favorite to all the BFs in my area just west of DFW in North Texas. It was native on my property with only a few plants. Now I have it almost all across the back of my 1 1/4 acre lot.
Is there a website that tracks the migration south like the one that tracts the migration north for Monarchs??? I have a few cats in the yard & have seen only a couple of adults. I think last year it was in October/November before I saw a lot of them.
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rjj1
Original Author
14 years ago
I would be more than happy to send you seed.

Journey North also follows the migration south.

randy

Here is a link that might be useful: Monarch Roosting Map
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susanlynne48
14 years ago
I have had quite a few Monarchs come thru here in OKC - more than in past years. A few roosted in the big maple across the street the other night. I kept wondering what the orange balls were in the tree til one flew off the other morning down to my yard to nectar on the lantana. I noticed the migration map showed they were far west and east of me, but I am not seeing that at all.

Many butterflies appear to be migrating early this year but I still have GFs, Monarchs, snd lots of skippers - and hummers, too. I have not seen any of my HEs and TEs, or BSTs, though, and had virtually no sulphurs this year, except a couple that did leave eggs on the Xmas Cassia.

I usually have tons of nectarers on the Blue mistflower and Asters, but only a few stragglers this year. Not complaining cuz I have had plenty of varieties to raise. Did see 1 Texas Crescent yesterday - they and Bordered Patches are 2 of my faves.

Randy your Maxi's are gorgeous. Just think of it this way - you've probably replenished a portion of what has been lost to commercialization/habitat destruction. Yea for Randy!

Susan
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