Posts Tagged: Pacific Northwest

The King of the Butterflies on the Queen of Annuals

Is there anything more beautiful than a monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, nectaring on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia)...

A monarch butterfly sipping nectar from a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in Vacaville, Calif., on Oct. 30. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch butterfly sipping nectar from a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in Vacaville, Calif., on Oct. 30. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch butterfly spreads its wings on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in Vacaville, Calif., on Oct. 30. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch butterfly spreads its wings on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in Vacaville, Calif., on Oct. 30. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

As striking as a stain glass window, the monarch takes flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

As striking as a stain glass window, the monarch takes flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Where Are All the Monarchs? Good News and Bad News

Where are all the monarch butterflies? There's good news and bad news. First, the bad news: "An Epic Migration on the Verge of Collapse," wrote...

A monarch on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) in September 2016 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) in September 2016 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This image of a female monarch butterfly was taken Sept. 14, 2016 in Vacaville. It was a good year for monarchs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This image of a female monarch butterfly was taken Sept. 14, 2016 in Vacaville. It was a good year for monarchs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

What's Going On with the Monarchs?

What's going on with the monarchs? Our little pollinator garden in Vacaville, Calif., usually draws dozens of them in the summer as they flutter...

A male monarch on Mexican sunflower (Tithonia) on Aug. 30 in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male monarch on Mexican sunflower (Tithonia) on Aug. 30 in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male monarch butterfly nectaring on Mexican sunflower (Tithonia) in Vacaville, Calif. on Aug. 30. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male monarch butterfly nectaring on Mexican sunflower (Tithonia) in Vacaville, Calif. on Aug. 30. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male monarch perches on the top of a Mexican sunflower in an image taken Aug. 30 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male monarch perches on the top of a Mexican sunflower in an image taken Aug. 30 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Migratory Monarchs Are on Their Way!

Migratory monarch alert! They're on their way.  Camera ready? Check. Notebook ready? Check! Entomologist David James of Washington State...

This 2016 tagged monarch butterfly flew 285 miles in 7 days from Ashland, Ore. on Aug. 28 to Vacaville, Calif., on Sept. 5, or about 40.7 miles per day, according to WSU entomologist David James. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This 2016 tagged monarch butterfly flew 285 miles in 7 days from Ashland, Ore. on Aug. 28 to Vacaville, Calif., on Sept. 5, or about 40.7 miles per day, according to WSU entomologist David James. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This 2017 female monarch was released Aug. 27 in Vacaville, as part of the Garvey family small-scale monarch rearing program. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This 2017 female monarch was released Aug. 27 in Vacaville, as part of the Garvey family small-scale monarch rearing program. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs Lovin' the Lantana, One Sip at a Time

What amazing journeys! For the last two months, migratory monarch butterflies have regularly stopped for flight fuel in our 600-square-foot ...

A monarch nectaring on Lantana on Oct. 23 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch nectaring on Lantana on Oct. 23 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch takes flight after fueling up Oct. 23 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch takes flight after fueling up Oct. 23 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The same monarch taking flight again over Lantana on Oct. 23 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The same monarch taking flight again over Lantana on Oct. 23 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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