Posts Tagged: monarch butterflies

What's Better Than Seeing a Monarch Butterfly?

Question: What's better than seeing a monarch butterfly? Answer: Seeing two monarch butterflies sharing the same blossom on a butterfly...

Two migrating monarchs land on a butterfly bush in Vacaville, Calif. to sip some nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two migrating monarchs land on a butterfly bush in Vacaville, Calif. to sip some nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarchs engage in what appears to be a territorial battle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarchs engage in what appears to be a territorial battle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A kaleidoscope of orange and black as the two monarchs seek the same blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A kaleidoscope of orange and black as the two monarchs seek the same blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wings up! The monarchs take flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wings up! The monarchs take flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarch Butterflies as Pollinators

"More than beautiful, monarch butterflies contribute to the health of our planet. While feeding on nectar, they pollinate many types of...

Bees are the most well known pollinators, but butterflies, including monarchs, are pollinators, too. This monarch butterfly, sipping nectar in a Vacaville garden, came up with a head full of pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bees are the most well known pollinators, but butterflies, including monarchs, are pollinators, too. This monarch butterfly, sipping nectar in a Vacaville garden, came up with a head full of pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

WSU-Tagged Monarchs May Be Heading Your Way

Seen any tagged monarchs lately? If you live in California, tagged monarchs from the migratory research project of entomologist David James of...

A newly eclosed male monarch spreads its wings. In the back is a female. Both eclosed on Sept. 5 in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A newly eclosed male monarch spreads its wings. In the back is a female. Both eclosed on Sept. 5 in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A newly eclosed female monarch clings to a tropical milkweed leaf before taking flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A newly eclosed female monarch clings to a tropical milkweed leaf before taking flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

And Just Like That, A Monarch Fluttered into Our Garden

And just like that, a female monarch butterfly fluttered into our Vacaville pollinator garden this morning, Aug. 10, and left a dozen or so...

A female monarch flutters into a Vacaville garden on Aug. 10 and checks out the narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A female monarch flutters into a Vacaville garden on Aug. 10 and checks out the narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch heads for another milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch heads for another milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch investigates a tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch investigates a tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A tiny monarch egg clings to the underside of a narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A tiny monarch egg clings to the underside of a narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Year 2023: What Does the Year Hold for Monarchs and Tropical Milkweed?

Do monarch butterflies know what they want/need? Apparently so, from personal observation. Over the years, we've grown multiple species of milkweed...

A monarch caterpillar feeding on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch caterpillar feeding on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch nectaring on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch nectaring on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bees and other pollinators frequent tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bees and other pollinators frequent tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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