As the long, hot days of summer slide into cooler, shorter days of autumn, seasonal changes are occurring in my garden. Not as many plants are blooming, the leaves on deciduous trees and plants are becoming drier and starting to change color. Some plants are producing autumn berries that will sustain many birds as insects, another source of food, begin to disappear.

Quite a few butterflies have been showing up in my garden to take advantage of flowers that are still blooming. Butterflies I have been seeing include painted ladies (Vanessa cardui), common buckeyes (Junonia coenia), fiery skippers (Hylephila phyleus)and cabbage whites (Pieris rapae).

With the advent of winter, butterflies disappear since they cannot tolerate temperatures below 55°F or rainy weather. So, what happens to butterflies in the winter???

Like all insects, butterflies undergo metamorphosis during their life cycle. Stages are from egg to larva/caterpillar to pupa (in chrysalis/cocoon) to adult. Different species have different winter survival strategies, during different phases of their life cycles.

Some Butterflies Migrate

Some butterfly adults migrate south, overwintering in warmer climates.

Monarch butterflies are known for their astonishingly long spring and fall migrations. Both the eastern monarchs and western monarchs began their southern migrations in late August or early September from southern Canada/northern USA to their overwintering sites. The eastern variety generally heads to the oyamel fir forests in the mountains of central Mexico, whereas the western Pacific species have a shorter journey to California's coastline. You may see some western monarchs this fall resting or feeding on flowers in your garden as they fly through the Central Valley on their way their overwintering sites in coastal areas such as Santa Cruz, Pacific Grove, Pismo Beach, and San Diego.

However, monarch butterflies are not the only butterfly species that migrate south. Like monarchs, painted ladies, common buckeyes, cloudless sulphurs (Phoebis sennae) and gulf fritillaries (Dione vanillae) are currently heading to their winter ranges, which are in southern California or western Mexico (including Baja California). However, these butterflies have a much shorter journey than monarchs since they do not journey as far north during the summer.

Other Winter Strategies

Most butterflies spend winter in the same area they spent summer.

Some lay their eggs in autumn on, or close to, their specific host plants with the eggs hatching the following spring. The common hairstreak (Satyrium californica) eggs are laid attached to twigs of oaks with the caterpillars feeding on newly emerged spring leaves.

Some species' caterpillars go into hibernation during the winter season. Duskywing butterflies such as the mournful duskywing (Erynnis tritis) generally have three generations each year with the third generation hibernating as a caterpillar within a tubular retreat formed of rolled leaves tied together with silk strands, sheltering themselves in protected tree nooks and crannies, or leaf litter, and pupating in the early spring.

Some butterflies weather the cold as pupa within a chrysalis in a sheltered spot. During this time, the pupa will enter diapause (where development stops). An antifreeze chemical in their blood allows them to survive cold temperatures. Once the days lengthen, it will resume its transformation, emerging as an adult just as in time for blooming flowers that provide nectar.   The tiger swallowtail's chrysalis (Papilio rutulus) will take refuge in deep shrubbery. The anise swallowtails (Papilio zelicaon) and cabbage whites also generally overwinter as a pupa in their chrysalis. Fiery skippers usually overwinter as pupae buried in leaves, but some adults will migrate to southern California.

Mourning cloaks (Nymphalis antiopa)go into dormancy as an adult. Their blood also contains an anti-freeze. They tuck themselves into cracks and crevices of rocks and trees.

Leaving the Leaves

You can help local butterflies survive winter no matter how they do it by:

• Learn which butterflies live in your area and grow native plants for those specific species.
• Offer nectar plants in the fall and spring months for butterflies that are migrating, emerging from overwintering, or getting ready to go into winter dormancy/hibernation. 
• Skip raking the leaves in your garden in autumn and leave standing plants alone until midspring, so overwintering butterfly larvae, pupae and adults have a place to hide. If leaving the leaves on your lawn is too messy for you, consider not disturbing the leaves in your planters. 
• If you find what looks like a dead chrysalis (many resemble dead leaves) in your yard, garage, shed, do not disturb it. A butterfly may well emerge in the spring.
• Avoid using pesticides as much as possible.

As is happening to other species, climate change, habitat loss, and pesticides are causing these important pollinators of many native plant species to be in trouble. Helping butterflies get through the winter months and the rest of the year will aid their survival and allow them to continue to bring us joy in our gardens with their beauty.

Resources

• Art Shapiro's Butterfly Site: https://butterfly.ucdavis.edu/butterflies
• Butterflies in Your Garden, Publication from UCCE Stanislaus County :https://ucanr.edu/sites/CEStanislausCo/files/345791.pdf
• Xerces Society - Pollinator Plants: Central Valley of California: https://xerces.org/publications/plant-lists/ppbi-california-central-valley 
• California Native Plant Society: https://www.cnps.org/ 
• UC Davis Arboretum – Larval Hosts for Butterflies: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/blog/larval-host-plants-butterflies

 Denise Godbout-Avant has been a UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener in Stanislaus County since 2020. 

A recent study* found that seeing or hearing birds can improve your mood and mental wellbeing for up to eight hours! Instead of heading out to bird watch, why not attract them to your own backyard or apartment patio?

This presentation was put together by Denise Godbout-Avant, one of our UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners. She did a lot of research to learn about local birds in Stanislaus County. You will be amazed when you see the colorful birds that live and migrate through our area!

Learn more at The Backyard is for the Birds classes at a local Stanislaus County Library near you during October of 2023. You don't need to sign up to attend the classes.

Visit our Calendar at https://ucanr.edu/sites/stancountymg/Calendar/ for dates, times, and locations.

*Time Magazine. Birdwatching Has Big Mental Health Benefits. https://time.com/6231886/birdwatching-mental-health/

 

Hello Sprout readers, We have a few questions for you…

• Are you tired of your landscape and ready for something new?
• Have you been thinking about replacing all or part of your lawn?
• Are you confused about how to transition from sprinkler to drip irrigation?
• Do you want to attract insect pollinators and birds to your landscape?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, this is the workshop for you! Learn how to replace your sprinkler system and convert to drip, hear about some low water use plants, including a list of plants that can provide bloom year-round.

Bring your questions! This is an especially great opportunity to speak with Tim Long, an expert in drip irrigation systems, as well as our other speakers who have experience with growing CA natives and lawn removal.

Workshop cost includes seeds, plants, and presentation materials and helps support our program. If you are unable to afford to pay for this class, not a problem! Just sign up so we know you are coming.

Where: Ag Center, Harvest Hall rooms D&E, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, 95358.  
When: Saturday, October 7, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $10
Questions? (209) 525-6800
Sign Up: https://ucanr.edu/new/front/yard

Instructors: UC Cooperative Extension, Stanislaus County Master Gardeners - Heidi Aufdermaur, Tim Long, Rhonda Allen, Doone Cockrell, and Bobbie Green.

Over thousands of years, the indigenous people of California used native plants in myriad ways for food, medicine, shelter, spiritual ceremonies, clothing, tools, and basketry. Some continue to practice the traditions, skills, and customs of their ancestors today. A small sampling of some of the California native plants they used that we may find in our gardens today:

Valley Oak (Querus lobata):

The acorns were a staple food, which was leached (rinsed with water) to remove the bitterness, and ground into flour with mortar and pestles. The ground acorns were used in stews/soups, pancakes/tortillas, mush, or layered into pits and cooked with other plants and meats. Oak galls were squeezed to make a blue-black ink for tattoos and tannins were used to make dyes and decorate animal skins.

Oaks are very important to a wide assortment of wildlife including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. It is a host plant to several butterflies including the California Sister, Mournful Duskywing, and Golden Hairstreak.

Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens):

A major grass for creating beautiful, sometimes water-tight baskets to cook food, to carry and store food and other items. Stalks were generally harvested in the spring when easy to pick, then wrapped to keep straight and allowed to cure for a year. They were often soaked prior to weaving into basket. About 1600 stalks would be needed to make one basket.

One of the most beautiful California grasses, this easy-to-grow plant attracts butterflies in the spring with its cream-colored flowers and seed-eating birds in the summer.

Santa Barbara Sedge (Carex barbarae):

The rhizomes (underground stems which generally grow horizontally) provided the strongest threads for basket making. The people would manage the rhizome growth by cleaning the soil of anything that might obstruct the growth (i.e., rocks) to allow the rhizomes to grow long and straight. An evergreen grass, the summer flowers range from cream, red and purple colors, which attract butterflies. 

Toyon, aka California Holly (Heteromeles arbutifolia):

The wood from this sturdy shrub had many uses including tools, games/toys, fuel for smoking fish, and religious ceremonies. The red berries produced in the fall which were eaten after roasting over coals or dried in the sun. 

An evergreen shrub, the summer white flowers attract bees and butterflies. Birds love the berries.

Blue Elderberry (Sambucus cerulea):

Stems are easily hollowed, so were used to make musical instruments, such as flutes, whistles, and clappers. Autumn berries were a food source. They were either eaten raw or cooked to make a kind of jam. The bark was brewed to make a remedy for fever.

This tough, easy-to-grow shrub or tree is dormant in the winter. The spring and summer blooming cream or yellow flowers attract bees and butterflies, with their berries being an important food source to many birds.

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita):

Its distinctive red wood which was sometimes used to dry and smoke fish.  The fruit was gathered in summer, then dried and ground to make coarse meal which would be mixed with a little water during winter months or made biscuits.  They would make tea with the berries and tips of the branches, which apparently was a pleasant drink. 

A beautiful evergreen shrub with lovely pink-white-green flowers that bloom in winter and spring which attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. The berries of this low-water plant attract many birds.

Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus):

The seeds were used as a food source. They were gathered, parched, ground, and added to foods or eaten by the handful. Flowers were used as décor after drying, made into wreaths, and used in religious ceremonies. The roots and leaves were used for medicinal purposes.

This drought-tolerant, evergreen shrub blooms in the spring, summer, and fall. The bright yellow tubular flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.  Autumn seeds attract small birds.

Whenever I see any of these California native plants, I think of how the indigenous people of California used these plants over thousands of years. By growing them in our gardens, we honor that history, help the survival of these plants which provide food sources for so many birds, bees, and butterflies, reduce water usage, bring variety to our gardens, and joy to our spirits with their beauty. 

Learn more at the Library - Take a free class!

This September, our UC Master Gardeners will present on the topic, "CA Native Plants" at 9 Stanislaus County Library locations. Visit our Calendar at https://ucanr.edu/sites/stancountymg/Calendar/ for dates, times, and locations.

Upcoming Workshop

On Saturday, October 7, 2023, we are offering our "The New Front Yard" workshop. Topics include drip irrigation, converting your yard to native plants, and how to garden for year-round bloom! Stay tuned for the registration announcement.

Resources:

• Enough For All: Foods of My Dry Creek Pomo and Bodega Miwuk People by Kathleen Rose Smith
• The Real California Cuisine: A Treatise on California Native-Plant Foods by Judith Larner Lowry
• Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources by M. Kat Anderson
• Indian Summer: A True Account of Traditional Life Among the Choinumni Indians of California's San Joaquin Valley
• Great Valley Museum of Natural History at Modesto Junior College's exhibit on Yokuts 
• California Native Plant Society: https://www.calscape.org/

Acknowledgment: Lillian Vallee, English professor emeritus, Modesto Junior College, who has shared her passion and knowledge with me over the years of California native plants and their historical uses by the California native people.

Denise Godbout-Avant has been a UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener in Stanislaus County since 2020.