Archive for the ‘Monarch Butterfy’ Category
Scene in Hawaii: Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller in a Supermarket Garden Shop
Crown Flower in the Supermarket Nursery -- Honolulu, August 9, 2009
NOTE: DoT has been posting from Honolulu since late July when she left California to help her mother through some medical procedures. She will be doing so until she can return to Orange County.
DoT’s Thot: “Love and kindness are the very basis of society. If we lose these feelings, society will face tremendous difficulties; the survival of humanity will be endangered.” — Dalai Lama
Supermarket Nursery– My Old Reliable Source of Gifts for Mother
Seeking ways to entertain a 92 year old mother, I visited a supermarket garden shop in (Moiliili) Honolulu that I have frequented for years. On every visit home, I have looked for plants and flowers to give Mom. One year I found an orchid plant with green blossoms. On this visit, as I wandered around, picking up vegetable seeds and potting soil, I walked out into the garden open area. It was bright and sunny and the full sun plants were getting all the rays they needed.
Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller 9 Aug. 09
Crown Flower — Excellent Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller Food
Over at one end of the rows of plants, I suddenly realized that I was staring at a pot with a white crown flower plant in it. For a commercial plant, it looked strangely moth-eaten with large holes in the leaves. All the other plants looked whole and commercially, cosmetically highly presentable. I looked closer and sure enough, there it was, a Monarch Butterfly caterpiller, large and succulent, munching away. I thought it a bit odd.
Goodbye to My Supermarket Garden Shop
Upon checking out, I overheard a conversation between a customer and clerk and discovered that the supermarket garden shop would be closing in a month or so. I was stunned and joined the conversation — my reliable nursery would be no more. None of the garden shop staff knows about their futures as yet; the nursery is another victim of the economic downturn.
Compassion in Survival: Hope for the Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller
As I packed the potting materials and plants into the car, I realized that the staff has conscientiously cared for all the plants. If I had not heard the conversation, I, as a visitor, would never have known about the employment issues — the Monarch Butterfly caterpiller was being spared by the staff. I took my camera, went back and took a few pictures to share with you the aloha (love) and ohana (family) in the supermarket garden shop that will soon be dispersed and go elsewhere.
Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller -- oopsy daisy, up and over
With the timetable they have, there is time for a butterfly to emerge from the Monarch Butterfly caterpiller. I truly hope all the staff find positions — I will miss them all, people and butterfly..
Aloha, DoT
Related Articles and References:
Related Posts:
- Asclepsis and Lantana: Food for Monarch Butterflies
- Monarch Butterfly Haiku: Camera Madness
- Monarch Butterfly Sightings Haiku — the Asclepsis Gardener’s Reward
- Missed the Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis — Found It Empty
- Monarch Butterflies — Caterpillar Faith
- Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Site Review — go visit
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt — First Report
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt is On
- A Note on Monarch Butterflies in Hawaii
- Vegetarian Recipes: Star Anise Flavored Boiled Peanuts
- In My Mother’s Garden: Neem Tree; Miracle Herb from India
- Scene In Hawaii: Rooster at the Shopping Center
- In My Mother’s Garden: Pakalana, One of My Favorite Fragrant Vining Flowers
- Cooking in Hawaii: Manoa Lettuce, My Favorite Salad Greens
- In My Mother’s Garden: the White Hibiscus Dad Gave Mom
- Cooking in Hawaii: Ginger Oil Chicken
- Cooking in Hawaii: Ahi Sashimi with Shiso, Chili Pepper, and Shoyu
- In My Mother’s Garden: Shell Ginger Hidden Among the Red Ginger
- In My Mother’s Garden: Red Ginger in Hawaii
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Kiawe Tree Revisited
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Bougainvillea “Dragons”
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Snowflakes, Rainbow Shower Tree Haiku
- Grow Tomatoes Review: Chinese Purple Tomato Fried Rice Recipe
Find Useful Cultivator Tools Here
Asclepsis and Lantana: Food for Monarch Butterflies
Asclepsis and Lantana Planted Together for Monarch Butterflies
DoT’s Thot: I was thinking of and feeding the Monarch babies, then I realized I should think of the Monarch Butterflies and what they need for food as well.
Asclepsis Provides Milkweed Leaves for Monarch Butterfly Caterpillers
Asclepsis Provides Milkweed for Monarch Butterfly Caterpillers
I first focused on the asclepsis mikl plant that I needed to feed the Monarch Butterfly caterpillers that would grow up to be the lovely orange, black and white butterflies. In another post, I explained that I was familiar with the crown flower in Hawaii, but not with the equivalents in California. In browsing around I happened upon a description of this asclepsis pictured here and got some seeds about 3 years ago. It worked and I have had a number of generations of Monarch Butterflies.
Lantana Provides Nectar for Monarch Butterflies
Lantana Provides Nectar for the Monarch Butterflies
This year, I realized that the Monarch Butterflies themselves would appreciate some flowers that appeal to them for food as well. Luckily I read that they like Lantana blossoms and I have a bush right in front. This year I planted some asclepsis in front of the larger lantana bush to make a mini-habitat.
Plan to Expand Monarch Butterfly Way Station
Next year, I hope to be a regular way station for the Monarch Butterflies and feed the monarch butterfly caterpillers even more . Because the seeds of the asclepsis burst from their pods and fly all over the place, I think I’ll move the bulk of the asclepsis to the backyard. I do still wish I had the familiar crown flower, but have not succeeded in finding it here in California. Hence, this asclepsis has to do.
Aloha, DoT
Related Articles or References:
Related Posts:
- Scene in Hawaii: Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller in a Supermarket Garden Shop
- A Note on Monarch Butterflies in Hawaii
- Monarch Butterfly Haiku: Camera Madness
- Monarch Butterfly Sightings Haiku — the Asclepsis Gardener’s Reward
- Missed the Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis — Found It Empty
- Monarch Butterflies — Caterpillar Faith
- Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Site Review — go visit
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt — First Report
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt is On
Find Useful Cultivator Tools Here
Monarch Butterfly Haiku: Camera Madness
Dot’s Thot: “Butterflies are self propelled flowers.” – R.H. Heinlein
Monarch Butterfly Closeup on Asclepsis Buds
DoT's Monarch Butterfly Haiku #2, "Monarch Butterfly Camera Madness"
Monarch Butterfly Speeding Among the Agapanthus Looks Like It is Pasted In
The Monarch Butterfly Eluded Me, Charmed the Hubby
A few days ago, while I was out in the yard, tending to plants and flowers, I caught a vague glimpse of my hubby moving rather fast for the brand-new medicare guy that he is. He has one of those ridiculously low heart rates — at rest, somewhere in the 40’s (genetic, it seems) — and I am used to him being a genial, ambling sort of guy.
Don’t be mistaken, he can move fast when he has too and that brain is constantly on the go, although.in general, he appears to be relaxed and easy-going, but apparently not when it comes to monarch butterfly pictures.
I looked, but got engrossed again. I was in the back yard and he soon disappeared, headed toward the front of the house. I figured he had something on his mind, as usual. When he gets an idea, he wants to execute immediately.
Some minutes later, he returned all excited — “I saw your butterfly. I think I got some pictures for you for your blog. Come look.” He sounded not a bit out of breath, but somewhat breathless in excitement. As one of those “keeper” kind of men, he was all too happy to make me happy.
Persistence Results in Interesting Monarch Butterfly Pictures
Imagine my surprise when I took the camera in and uploaded the photographs. Some days before, I had tried to take a flip video of a Monarch butterfly and it just made me dizzy. I couldn’t get a good close-up and the flittering, fleeting, fluttering butterfly turned me around in circles.
I can appreciate how he must have run around and persisted to get the photos. I have included some here. Just an amateur monarch butterfly lover, I have tried to attract and journal the monarch butterfly life cycle for myself. I love the unusual pictures he managed to take: one where the butterfly is seen from the top as the wings are folded together, appearing like a sudden sliver of color among the leaves and one where he caught the butterfly in mid-flight as an orange, black, and white big “V” zooming low in the garden.
What shots these are — I can imagine the butterfly for myself. Some pictures look like they could have been digitally manipulated, because of the movement — kind of the surreal feeling butterflies sometimes induce in real life. In some of them, there is a feeling of “Where’s Wally?” as I hunt among the foliage and blossoms for the elusive butterfly.
Unusual Angle of a Monarch Butterfly as a Colorful Sliver
"Coming in Low to Strafe the Ants!"
Finally, as he followed it, the butterfly lighted upon, of all things, the butterfly bush or asclepsis that I have tended to for three years to foster the monarch butterflies. He took a series of shots and the butterfly is as magnificent as any I have seen. What a man — kind of an un-birthday present; therefore, I want to share them with you.
Aloha, DoT
Related Articles or References:
Related Posts:
- Asclepsis and Lantana: Food for Monarch Butterflies
- Scene in Hawaii: Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller in a Supermarket Garden Shop
- A Note on Monarch Butterflies in Hawaii
- Monarch Butterfly Sightings Haiku — the Asclepsis Gardener’s Reward
- Missed the Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis — Found It Empty
- Monarch Butterflies — Caterpillar Faith
- Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Site Review — go visit
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt — First Report
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt is On
Monarch Butterfly Sightings Haiku — the Asclepsis Gardener’s Reward
DoT’s Thot:
Asclepsis Gardener's Reward: Monarch Butterfly
Monarch Butterfly On Asclepsis Plant with Buds
Monarch Butterfly Effect
Busily canning tomatoes today, I looked out the window over my kitchen sink and there it was — flitting around my butterfly bush plant. I felt a little less tired; and instead, happy that the orange-gold, black and white “flutter-by” distracted me from work.
Hope to post by tomorrow or the next day to share with you. Aloha, DoT
Related Articles and References:
Related Posts:
- Asclepsis and Lantana: Food for Monarch Butterflies
- Scene in Hawaii: Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller in a Supermarket Garden Shop
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Bougainvillea “Dragons”
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Snowflakes, Rainbow Shower Tree Haiku
- A Note on Monarch Butterflies in Hawaii
- Monarch Butterfly Haiku: Camera Madness
- Monarch Butterfly Sightings Haiku — the Asclepsis Gardener’s Reward
- Missed the Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis — Found It Empty
- Monarch Butterflies — Caterpillar Faith
- Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Site Review — go visit
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt — First Report
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt is On
Find Useful Cultivator Tools Here
Missed the Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis — Found It Empty
Dot’s Thot: “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was
over, it turned into a butterfly.” –Unknown
Empty Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis
Dot’s Jot:
Quick Note — I had looked and looked for the chrysalis and could not find any. Then in mid-June I saw this one empty chrysalis — not that seafoam/turquoise gold-speckled chrysalis, but the empty pale tan husk that had released its butterfly.
It made sense — I had seen a number of Monarch Butterflies flitting about. I’ll be darned — tell people you are looking and then become optically dense — oh well, next round of butterflies, maybe. I just wanted to capture my own photos. Next, I should have some butterfly pictures.
One thing I know, the caterpillars smartly move away from the asclepsis or butterfly bushes to wrap themselves into their chrysalis hibernation nest. It must protect them from predators to be separated from the butterfly bushes they love. Aloha, Dot
Related Posts:
- Asclepsis and Lantana: Food for Monarch Butterflies
- Scene in Hawaii: Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller in a Supermarket Garden Shop
- A Note on Monarch Butterflies in Hawaii
- Monarch Butterfly Haiku: Camera Madness
- Monarch Butterfly Sightings Haiku — the Asclepsis Gardener’s Reward
- Monarch Butterflies — Caterpillar Faith
- Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Site Review — go visit
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt — First Report
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt is On
Related Articles on Other Sites
