PEC Monarch Preservation Nursery

09/28/2023

My last mowzone rescue eclosed today! After 22 days in chrysalis!!! She was eager to get on her way and flew high up into the village and perched on tall pine tree before taking off again!

Happy travels to Mexico!!

09/24/2023

This boy emerged with a wonky back leg and smaller than most monarchs this season. I tried to release him but his first flight was a dud. He flitted to the ground heavily.

So, I sat him in the garden and watched him for a bit. He got his walking 3 legged bearings down and ate & rested for a bit, then tried his 2nd flight... And it was a success! He flitted off up over the house and off he went. 👍

09/20/2023

08/23/2023

This girl (who emerged this morning), some of her caterpillar siblings & I are on our way to .pecforestschool to have a visit and talk about monarch butterlfies & pollinator gardens. 😊

08/18/2023

A neat 'clock' by to show you the migration generations of the Monarch.

08/18/2023

Lots in chrysalis right now. I should probably start getting 1 butterfly a day now

08/18/2023

Look who showed up this morning!! In the last few hours to be precise! This butterfly took 14 days to emerge. Usual time is about 8 to 10. This butterfly is still opening it's wings. They hang for hours like this after they come out of chrysalis. Their wings are very floppy at this point after they pump out the crinkled wings. They will pump their wings to fill their veins (black lines on the wings) with fluid, which then becomes hard like a bone and gives their wings the structure and strength to fly!

08/11/2023

The wee babes who hatched from their eggs a few days ago have become toddlers. They grow up so fast😍😊

08/11/2023

Just watched this little midsize cat shed his coat because he has grown too big for his own skin. Onto the next instar little buddy! I didn't catch video but if you have ever had to wiggle out of a tight pair of pants or spanx...you understand what i mean when i say his 'little wiggle dance'.

08/06/2023

J hangin... Soon to be chrysalis number 3. They seem to like to J hang then chrysalis in the evenings most. Given they do everything by temp & sun cycle as butterflies... it makes sense.

08/06/2023

Just went over Bond road and the one mowzone milkweed along the 3 klm stretch had this cool cat and 1 egg on it.

A plucked the milkweed and the cat fell onto my shirt & decided to crawl down my arm and hang out on my hand while i drove home. 😁

Now nestled in the nursery munching on milkweed again.

08/05/2023

In the nursery currently...

3 chonkers in various stages
1 chrysalis that happened overnight Thursday/Friday
And 1 cat now j hanging and prepping to chrysalis tonight.

Will be doing more mowzone rescuing this long weekend.