It looks easier when Mother Nature does it
At our busiest last month, Charlie and I had five houseguests living with us. We were happy to host them, but boy, what a chore! They ate constantly, and insisted on an incredibly limited diet — nothing but their one favorite food would do. They stayed to their rooms, but made a mess, dropping their stuff everywhere.
One of them finally set off on his own a few days ago; up and left without a word of thanks. We cheered his departure and took the obligatory photos. We expect the others will leave soon, but we know that won’t happen until they’re good and ready, so we can’t mark an exact date on the calendar. We’re pretty sure that they’re all planning to head to Mexico, some place in the mountains they seem to know about.
If you haven’t figured it out already, these were not ordinary guests, but monarch larvae that we brought into the house. It feels like a privilege to be able to see them through their metamorphosis,
but I have to say, I’ll be glad when it’s over.
What a responsibility! Monarch caterpillars eat just one food: various species of milkweed. We have two small butterfly weed plants in the garden, and I was afraid we were going to run out. Female monarchs apparently lay only a single egg on any given milkweed plant, but many monarchs may visit the same plant, and we found easily a dozen larvae on ours. What do you do when you set the table for one or two extra mouths and half the neighborhood shows up?
So, it was a huge relief when the last of the five “cats” walked off the milkweed stalks in the butterfly habitat and formed their chrysalides. No more feeding! Now we’re just watching the calendar and waiting. Monarchs typically “eclose” in seven to 10 days. But it can be longer.
Why share this with you? Partly, because it’s such a fascinating and mysterious process to me. Partly, it’s the stunning, pale-green chrysalides, with their ring of bright gold spots (oxygen ports, apparently) that hang in the habitats like miniature Faberge eggs. Partly, it’s because monarchs are so strikingly beautiful. And partly, it’s because we know that monarchs are being challenged more and more by habitat loss. Along with increasing “development,” land-use practices have changed in ways that have eliminated much of the milkweed that used to be available. And at this time of year, when many backyard flower gardens are winding down from the summer season, monarchs are looking for nectar sources to fuel their long flight. Starting a long journey is the easy part. Completing it is not guaranteed.
But my main takeaway from our small experience as adoptive “parents” is that it’s so much easier when Mother Nature does it! Over millions and millions of years, things have evolved to work a certain way, and to do it pretty seamlessly. We don’t have to pay attention. We don’t even need to know how it all works. (And, we don’t!) Nonetheless, we carve up our environment, push it back, and reconfigure it to suit our own needs. Then, we start scrambling to save the bits that are left.
Being aware of all of this, we can plant our flower beds and borders with the monarchs in mind, and include native plants that flower in late summer. One excellent source for ideas, plant lists, and hands-on help is Valley Forge Audubon’s “Backyards for Nature” program. https://valleyforgeaudubon.org/bfn/ The beauty of it is, once you plant them, you can let nature take its course.
Last month I stepped into the world of the tiny monarch butterfly, and discovered — yet again — how intricate and vast the world of nature is. I wonder: What are your deep connection points? Where have you stepped in? I’d love to know.
Pam Baxter is an avid organic vegetable gardener who lives in Kimberton. Direct e-mail to pamelacbaxter@gmail.com, or send mail to P.O. Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442. Share your gardening stories on Facebook at “Chester County Roots.” Pam’s book for children and families, Big Life Lessons from Nature’s Little Secrets, is available on Amazon, at Amazon.com/author/ pamelabaxter.