Posts Tagged: Washington State University

First Monarch of the Year and First Summit of the Year

So there it was...a monarch lying on its side, one wing down and one wing up, in the middle of a residential neighborhood in west Vacaville,...

A gloved hand holds a male monarch found cold and still in the middle of a residential street in west Vacaville on Jan. 3, 2022. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A gloved hand holds a male monarch found cold and still in the middle of a residential street in west Vacaville on Jan. 3, 2022. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male monarch nectars on Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifola) in Vacaville, Calif., on Oct. 26, 2022. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male monarch nectars on Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifola) in Vacaville, Calif., on Oct. 26, 2022. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Western Monarchs: 'A Great Breeding Season in 2022'

Ready for some good news about our iconic monarch butterflies? The Western monarch population at overwintering sites in California indicates a...

Overwintering monarchs in Cambria, San Luis Obispo County. This site does not appear on the official list of California's overwintering sites, says WSU entomologist David James. It was home in November to 15,000 butterflies. (Photo by David James, Washington State University entomologist)

Overwintering monarchs in Cambria, San Luis Obispo County. This site does not appear on the official list of California's overwintering sites, says WSU entomologist David James. It was home in November to 15,000 butterflies. (Photo by David James, Washington State University entomologist)

A cluster of monarchs at an overwintering site in Bolinas, Calif. (Photo by David James, Washington State University entomologist)

A cluster of monarchs at an overwintering site in Bolinas, Calif. (Photo by David James, Washington State University entomologist)

Monarchs clustering at an overwintering site in Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo County. (Photo by David James, Washington State University entomologist)

Monarchs clustering at an overwintering site in Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo County. (Photo by David James, Washington State University entomologist)

Seen Any Monarchs Lately? They're Stopping for Flight Fuel

Seen any monarchs lately? A beautiful male glided into our Vacaville garden late yesterday and made himself at home on our Mexican sunflowers,...

A male monarch nectaring on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, on Monday, Oct. 24 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male monarch nectaring on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, on Monday, Oct. 24 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The nectar from the Tithonia is flight fuel for its journey an overwintering site along the California coast. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The nectar from the Tithonia is flight fuel for its journey an overwintering site along the California coast. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Time to go when a honey bee tries to horn in on your nectar! The monarch is prepared for take-off. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Time to go when a honey bee tries to horn in on your nectar! The monarch is prepared for take-off. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Monarch Who Arrived Late for Dinner

Never be late for dinner or it might be all gone. Take the case of the Mexican sunflowers, Tithonia rotundifola, that we planted last...

A male monarch arrives Oct. 3 to nectar Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A male monarch arrives Oct. 3 to nectar Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a male monarch nectaring on Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a male monarch nectaring on Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A spent blossom hangs over a male monarch that is sipping nectar from a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A spent blossom hangs over a male monarch that is sipping nectar from a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male monarch samples nectar from a butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male monarch samples nectar from a butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Why the Petunia Patch Reigned Supreme Today

All year long, we've been waiting for those majestic monarchs to visit our pollinator garden in Vacaville, as they have in the past 10 years or...

Find the monarch! A monarch stopped to nectar in a Mexican petunia patch Sept. 15 in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Find the monarch! A monarch stopped to nectar in a Mexican petunia patch Sept. 15 in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Zooming in, you can see the iconic monarch nectaring on a Mexican petunia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Zooming in, you can see the iconic monarch nectaring on a Mexican petunia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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