Megan MacDonald Brosterman

Another day, bigger caterpillars. 🐛 And this time with a photobombing butterfly. 🦋🧡

It’s been so tempting to bring them inside to watch as they form their chrysalises, but experts like @xercessociety say not to do that - it can spread diseases to the monarchs and it does not help the monarch population- if anything, it may hurt it.

Instead, to help the monarchs, we should:

🌸 Plant milkweed species native to your area to provide food for Monarch caterpillars. Here in New York State, I’ve planted Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) and Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa).

🌼 Plant a variety of nectar-rich flowers to support adult Monarchs throughout their lifecycle. I’ve seen Monarchs enjoying all types of goldenrod (solidago), Anise Hyssop (agastache foeniculum), and blazing star (liatris), and of course swamp milkweed!

💚 Ensure that milkweed and nectar plants are free from pesticides. (That includes mosquito spray!!)

Have you planted a Monarch habitat? Are you seeing Monarchs this year?

#monarchcaterpillars #monarchbutterflies #monarchmigration #monarchhabitat #gardeningismytherapy