Migration Fixation

Our new butterfly/pollinator garden has fulfilled every expectation this year.  The vegetable garden, not so much.  The rainy, cool weather wreaked havoc on the tomatoes, rabbits discovered the cabbages, and the potatoes gave up the ghost a few weeks ago.  But the butterfly garden that the Girl Scouts planted with care in May?

Spectacular.

Everything has grown beautifully and fully, including a volunteer tomato plant (which is crowding out the Bee Balm, but I didn't have the heart to pull it when it was trying so hard to survive).  This time of year, however, is monarch season.

We found four of these striking monarch caterpillars on the swamp milkweed last Thursday.  They seem to prefer it over the traditional roadside milkweed planted right next to it.  Because it is such a fantastic learning experience for all ages, we moved a few into jars and containers to let some of our younger friends care for them until they are ready to be set free.

I'm always fascinated by how much and how quickly they can eat.  You can see the half-eaten leaf above.  One can actually watch them chew through a leaf, almost cartoon-like.  I promise, it's faster and more exciting than watching grass grow.

The coloring is unmistakable.  The vivid striping warns predators that they are toxic and unpleasant to eat.  There are a vast amount of jaw-dropping facts and photos about monarch caterpillars, chrysalis', and butterflies at this site.  Learn how caterpillars breathe, how and why they molt, and how they move.  An especially interesting fact is that these caterpillars increase their size 2,000 times in two weeks.  I'm afraid to do the math and find out how big I would be if I increased my size 2,000 times in 2 weeks!

We found them right before they were ready to build their chrysalis.  Not 24 hours later were they all found hanging peacefully from the roof of their containers, doing their quiet metamorphosis.  Now we are all waiting and watching, hoping to catch a glimpse of the emergence of the butterfly.  In case you have missed this show, click here to watch a video.  It never ceases to amaze me how nature's magic works.

When they have emerged, they will be set free on a sunny morning.  This freedom will set them on their journey south to the Mexican region.  They will roost for the winter and prepare to return next spring.  Check out the map here to see their current migration patterns and how they are doing in 2013.

For something new and fun this fall at Headwaters Park, we're hosting a visitor.  Check him out below.

  He'll only be visiting for a few weeks, but I thought he might like a formal tour of the Park.  So as I hiked with him through the trails, I snapped photo after photo of him in interesting and unique areas (this took a while, as we have a great number of super spots).  Here is a challenge to you all:  Find the spot where I took the photo of our roaming gnome and snap a shot of yourself or a friend/pet/parent in that same spot.  Email it to me and I'll feature some in future blogs.  I'll start you off with two easy locations.  The one above...

and the one below...

What better way to usher in the fall season than with a new hike and a new friend?  Keep your eyes open to new sounds and sights in the Park as the new season arrives!