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12-04-2009, 07:21 PM | #1 | |||
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Well, we got the earliest snow in Houston history today. At one point we had about 2" accumulated on the lawn and the cars. But we also still had monarch caterpillars on our milkweed outside and about a dozen chrysalises hanging from the walls and eaves of the house. They can't survive through a freeze, so what were we to do?
We brought them into the guest bathroom, pinned the chrysalises to the bare milkweed branches, and kept them warm while it snowed outside. The 14 chrysalises and 5 caterpillars look like little Christmas ornaments hanging from the trees. Our cat even tried to bring us a dead rat as a present to put under the tree while we were outside taking them down from the walls and eaves. She is such a thoughtful and generous little critter... We already had one monarch hatch and are expecting 2-3 more in the next day or so before it gets warm enough to put them back outside. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Blessings2You (12-04-2009), gonnamakeit (12-10-2009), karousel (12-04-2009), Kitty (12-05-2009), Koala77 (12-04-2009), Riverwild (12-04-2009), SallyC (12-04-2009), SandyC (12-04-2009), soxmom (12-11-2009), tkrik (12-05-2009), Twinkletoes (12-04-2009), TwoKidsTwoCats (12-06-2009) |
12-04-2009, 08:28 PM | #2 | |||
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Magnate
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Thank you for brightening my day with your care and concern for the Monarchs!
You and your wife are my heroes!
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I know the sound the river makes, by dawn, by night, by day. But can it stay me through tomorrows that find me far away? . I have this mental picture in my mind of you all, shaking bones and bells and charms, muttering prayers and voodoo curses, dancing around in a circle of salt, with leetle glasses and tiny bottles of cheer in the middle...myyyyyy friends! diagnosed 09/03/2004 scheduled to start Tysabri 03/05 Tysabri withdrawn from market 02/28/05 Copaxone 05/05-12/06 Tysabri returned to market 06/05/06 Found a new neuro 04/07 Tysabri 05/25/07-present Medical Marijuana legally 12/03/09 . Negative for JC virus antibodies! . I'm doing alright and making good grades, The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades! . |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | SallyC (12-04-2009) |
12-04-2009, 08:37 PM | #3 | |||
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Senior Member
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That was a wonderful thing to do! How cool one already hatched.
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"Thanks for this!" says: | SallyC (12-04-2009) |
12-04-2009, 10:18 PM | #4 | |||
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Legendary
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How sweet.
I have no idea what these caterpillars will evolve into, but knowing that you helped with the surival of their species is really nice. Thank you for sharing.
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Eastern Australian Daylight Savings Time and my temperature . |
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12-04-2009, 11:07 PM | #5 | |||
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This is what they become:
They are famous for their annual migrations from Mexico all the way to the northern US and southern Canada and back. It takes several generations of the butterfly's life cycle to get from Mexico to Canada, and another 3-4 generations to get back to Mexico. By helping make sure more butterflies make it south each winter, we also make sure that there will be more to start the migration north next spring. They lay their eggs on the milkweed plant, and the caterpillars consume the leaves, which makes them taste bad to birds and other predators. That is why the plants in the bathroom have very few leaves...the caterpillars have eaten them all. Other butterflies and moths will also mimic the pattern of the Monarch to confuse predators. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | gonnamakeit (12-10-2009), SallyC (12-04-2009) |
12-05-2009, 12:41 AM | #6 | |||
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Legendary
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They're beautiful, thank you!
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Eastern Australian Daylight Savings Time and my temperature . |
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12-07-2009, 09:19 AM | #7 | |||
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Magnate
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They are THE most recognisable butterfly in the states - I think everyone here knows what they are and admires them. I know every gardener here brags when they hit their flowers.
Thank you for helping them out! It has become quite popular to plant butterfly gardens (even if that means milkweeds taking over and getting eaten to the ground, lol). But not too many people hand over the bathroom to them. Good job!
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"Thanks for this!" says: | SallyC (12-07-2009), Twinkletoes (12-08-2009) |
12-10-2009, 06:59 PM | #8 | |||
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In Remembrance
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How are the Monarchs? Did they make it?
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~Love, Sally . "The best way out is always through". Robert Frost ~If The World Didn't Suck, We Would All Fall Off~ |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Riverwild (12-11-2009) |
12-11-2009, 12:01 AM | #9 | |||
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Lets see...we had one hatch during the snow...he was released two days later when it was sunny and about 60 out. He flew straight up and away and just kept going. We had two more hatch Monday morning and my wife released them Wednesday morning when it was sunny again.
We have had 3 more hatch in the last day and a half...one is still filling out its wings and drying them as we speak. They will probably have to wait until Sunday to be released when it is warm and sunny again. We have had 4 more caterpillars make chrysalises and we still have 2-3 more still eating. We have 2-3 more that should hatch in the next day or so, so we will probably be releasing 5-6 on Sunday. I will try to post some pictures tomorrow if I get a chance. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Becca44 (12-13-2009), Riverwild (12-11-2009), SallyC (12-11-2009), Twinkletoes (12-11-2009), TwoKidsTwoCats (12-11-2009) |
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