Posts Tagged: monarch

On Sept. 6, 2016, It Happened

On Sept. 6, 2016, it happened. A monarch fluttered into our pollinator garden in Vacaville and touched down on a Mexican sunflower,...

This monarch, tagged and released in Ashland, Ore., on Aug. 28, 2016, touched down in a Vacaville garden on Sept. 6, 2016. It flew 285 miles in 7 days or about 40.7 miles per day, according to WSU entomologist David James. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This monarch, tagged and released in Ashland, Ore., on Aug. 28, 2016, touched down in a Vacaville garden on Sept. 6, 2016. It flew 285 miles in 7 days or about 40.7 miles per day, according to WSU entomologist David James. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Welcome, Little 'Cat; 'Bye, Little 'Cat!

Monarch butterflies seem to be as scarce as hen's teeth around here. And since hens have no teeth, that's pretty scarce. And then it happened. A...

A visitor! A late in-star monarch caterpillar munches on wilting milkweed in a Vacaville garden in triple-temperature conditions. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A visitor! A late in-star monarch caterpillar munches on wilting milkweed in a Vacaville garden in triple-temperature conditions. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch caterpillar keeps on munching the milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch caterpillar keeps on munching the milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a monarch caterpillar munching milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a monarch caterpillar munching milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Mantis on the Milkweed

So here's this immature praying mantis, a Stagmomantis limbata, perched on a narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, in a Vacaville...

A camouflaged praying mantis, a Stagmomantis limbata, perched on a narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A camouflaged praying mantis, a Stagmomantis limbata, perched on a narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying mantis perched on a milkweed, the host plant for monarchs. She seems to be saying: "Sure, I'm occupying a milkweed, but I promise I'll never even LOOK at a monarch. I'll close my eyes should one flutter by." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying mantis perched on a milkweed, the host plant for monarchs. She seems to be saying: "Sure, I'm occupying a milkweed, but I promise I'll never even LOOK at a monarch. I'll close my eyes should one flutter by." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The mantis keeps an eye out for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The mantis keeps an eye out for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The mantis assumes the prayerful position--let us prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The mantis assumes the prayerful position--let us prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Memorial Day 2024

Today, Memorial Day 2024, we pay tribute our fallen soldiers, and those who served, survived, and struggled home. It's a day I remember my American...

Monarchs frequently show up in the Garvey garden during Memorial Day weekend. This year was no exception, but this image wasn't taken during the 2024 Memorial Day weekend. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs frequently show up in the Garvey garden during Memorial Day weekend. This year was no exception, but this image wasn't taken during the 2024 Memorial Day weekend. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs and California Golden Poppies: Color Them Orange

Monarchs and California golden poppies...Color them orange...Color them bold...Color them beautiful... And color them natives... The California...

Color them orange: A California golden poppy and a monarch butterfly in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Color them orange: A California golden poppy and a monarch butterfly in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Read more