Hi Kimka, That agrees with what I have seen around here. There are zero milkweeds in the cultivated fields, and there are some milkweeds along our roadsides. Last year there were milkweeds growing along our roadside as close as 100 yards from where I am sitting now. Not a lot, but some. I didn't notice any caterpillars or chrysalises on them, either. They did put out a lot of their fluffy airborne seeds, though, so there is hope for them. In our immediate area, most of the roadside does not get mowed, because there are deep drainage ditches that prevent the mowers that are used here from mowing the ditch area. I have seen the highway department use mowers that are on long extension arms that could mow such inaccessible areas, but they don't use that kind of equipment in this area. So the roadside milkweeds are safe in this area for the time being. If the Monarchs would just use them. As for those many counties across the country that are mowing the roadsides for weed control, they probably aren't even aware that they are hurting the butterflies. But if butterfly activist groups made them aware, they probably wouldn't "cease and desist" in their mowing. Their argument might be that the safety of the motorists was more important than the butterflies. There are extensive areas that are not suitable for agricultural use. The wide pathways under cross country high voltage power lines are kept clear of trees for obvious reasons, and the meadow flowers that grow there attract butterflies of many kinds. Perhaps those areas could be deliberately seeded with milkweeds. And perhaps the railroads could be persuaded to join in a Monarch conservation effort. Kimka, I agree with you totally that the recent decline in Monarchs is not from farmers keeping Milkweeds out of their fields. But I am not sure the recent Monarch decline is due to a recent change in roadside mowing either. At least, I haven't seen a recent change in that. We had a bad drought last year and, in fact, we technically are still in that. Droughts are typically multi-year. Maybe this is another "climate change" thing. ZM

Most plants in my gardens are either attractive to butterflies or hummingbirds, or both (nectar wise) and I've added two "butterfly weed" (the "a" word plants that I can't pronouce or spell, lol). We've had a lot of work over the past year bringing the gardens back from weeds or non-existance, but this year we've been rewarded...with a LOT of bees (and I do mean this in a positive way, I'm always happy to see the honeybees)! One morning my "sundrops" were absolutely full of them-there was at least one bee per flower! And a hummer or two, and some cabbage whites. I have begun to see some painted ladies (I think) and hopefully the monarchs will start to arrive soon. I plan yet another bed of just wildflower seed, and one more TBD (seed mix is so temptingly easy and cheap compared to buying individual plants). I think it was two or three years ago when we saw a bunch of monarchs taking shelter in some trees during the migration-it was phenominal. We live on the shore of Lake Ontario, so we're right in a major pathway for them...

Thank you for sharing. I, too, have been watching the population decline through participation (by monitoring and reporting local conditions) in the Monarch Larvae Monitoring Project out of University of Minnesota. (www.mlmp.org) Unfortunately, this decline is not confined to monarchs, but is affecting many other pollinators as well: the honeybee (brought to the new world by European settlers) and many species of our native bees, bumblebees having been hit very hard in many regions. A major portion of our food supply is directly or indirectly dependent upon insect pollinators. As Professor Doug Tallamy says, we need to support the biodiversity that supports us. Another great resource on pollinator conservation is the Xerces Society (www.xerces.org). 1. For food sources, choose plants to provide as long a season of growth and bloom as possible (native plants are best as they co-evolved with our other native species). 2. Don't forget some water - a saucer filled with pebbles and water will do (and male butterflies need the minerals found in mud puddles in order to reproduce). 3. Reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides. 4. Consider providing the shelter of a small brush pile, nesting bundle or, more elaborate, an "insect hotel" ... I'm going to let you all do your own search on that phrase. 5. Allow some of your herbs and veggies go to flower and set seed - you'll find them less desirable for culinary purposes, but beneficial insects will love the nectar and birds will enjoy the seed. Instead of deadheading all your plants, towards the end of the season allow some seed heads to remain for the birds - goldfinches love seeds of the purple coneflower, others go for rose hips.

Sorry, I had not been keeping up on this thread. Thanks for the report, Ksokiegonnab. Gamebird, if the caterpillars are on parsley, then they are indeed Black swallowtails. If they can continue to eat with this "cooler" weather that we are having, they will wander off, and find a sheltered area to make a chrysalis. They will overwinter as a chrysalis, and emerge on a warm day in the spring. Moths tend to burrow down into loose soil or debris, and make a cocoon, to emerge in the spring. Betty, thanks for your exciting report of the Monarchs in your yard! Butterflies are very host specific on what they lay their eggs on. Monarchs only lay their eggs on milkweed. Snow on the Mountain is not in the milkweed family. Perhaps, there is milkweed in the alley or pasture nearby??? If you have parsley or fennel in your yard, the caterpillars may have been Black swallowtails. The tropical milkweed is easy to obtain and grow. It is an excellent nectar source, as well as host plant for the Monarchs to lay their eggs on. You may be able to find some native mw growing in some fencelines or pastures, and find some with some interesting seedpods, tobring some seeds home for a native plant area. As you increase your nectar and host plants in your garden, you will begin to find lots of butterflies seeking out your yard. Good luck with your garden, and thanks for your interest.