Master Gardeners of Ventura County
University of California
Master Gardeners of Ventura County

Posts Tagged: monarch butterflies

What's Better Than Seeing a Monarch Butterfly?

Question: What's better than seeing a monarch butterfly? Answer: Seeing two monarch butterflies sharing the same blossom on a butterfly bush! Scenario: Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) from the Pacific Northwest are fluttering through Vacaville, Calif. and...

Two migrating monarchs land on a butterfly bush in Vacaville, Calif. to sip some nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Two migrating monarchs land on a butterfly bush in Vacaville, Calif. to sip some nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two migrating monarchs land on a butterfly bush in Vacaville, Calif. to sip some nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarchs engage in what appears to be a territorial battle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The monarchs engage in what appears to be a territorial battle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarchs engage in what appears to be a territorial battle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A kaleidoscope of orange and black as the two monarchs seek the same blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A kaleidoscope of orange and black as the two monarchs seek the same blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A kaleidoscope of orange and black as the two monarchs seek the same blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wings up! The monarchs take flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Wings up! The monarchs take flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wings up! The monarchs take flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 5:11 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

Monarch Butterflies as Pollinators

"More than beautiful, monarch butterflies contribute to the health of our planet. While feeding on nectar, they pollinate many types of wildflowers.--National Park Service. Have you ever seen pollen on a monarch butterfly? This morning a male migrating...

Bees are the most well known pollinators, but butterflies, including monarchs, are pollinators, too.  This monarch butterfly, sipping nectar in a Vacaville garden, came up with a head full of pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bees are the most well known pollinators, but butterflies, including monarchs, are pollinators, too. This monarch butterfly, sipping nectar in a Vacaville garden, came up with a head full of pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bees are the most well known pollinators, but butterflies, including monarchs, are pollinators, too. This monarch butterfly, sipping nectar in a Vacaville garden, came up with a head full of pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Monday, September 25, 2023 at 7:03 PM
Tags: monarch butterflies (96), nectar (9), pollen (35), pollinators (40), Tithonia (62)
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

WSU-Tagged Monarchs May Be Heading Your Way

Seen any tagged monarchs lately? If you live in California, tagged monarchs from the migratory research project of entomologist David James of Washington State University may be heading your way. One tagged monarch, a male, fluttered into our Vacaville...

A newly eclosed male monarch spreads its wings. In the back is a female. Both eclosed on Sept. 5 in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A newly eclosed male monarch spreads its wings. In the back is a female. Both eclosed on Sept. 5 in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A newly eclosed male monarch spreads its wings. In the back is a female. Both eclosed on Sept. 5 in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A newly eclosed female monarch clings to a tropical milkweed leaf before taking flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A newly eclosed female monarch clings to a tropical milkweed leaf before taking flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A newly eclosed female monarch clings to a tropical milkweed leaf before taking flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Monday, September 11, 2023 at 4:43 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Yard & Garden

And Just Like That, A Monarch Fluttered into Our Garden

And just like that, a female monarch butterfly fluttered into our Vacaville pollinator garden this morning, Aug. 10, and left a dozen or so calling cards: precious eggs.  We earlier saw a male monarch patrolling the garden on the morning of...

A female monarch flutters into a Vacaville garden on Aug. 10 and checks out the narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A female monarch flutters into a Vacaville garden on Aug. 10 and checks out the narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A female monarch flutters into a Vacaville garden on Aug. 10 and checks out the narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch heads for another milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The monarch heads for another milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch heads for another milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch investigates a tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The monarch investigates a tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch investigates a tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A tiny monarch egg clings to the underside of a narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A tiny monarch egg clings to the underside of a narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A tiny monarch egg clings to the underside of a narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at 7:33 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

Year 2023: What Does the Year Hold for Monarchs and Tropical Milkweed?

Do monarch butterflies know what they want/need? Apparently so, from personal observation. Over the years, we've grown multiple species of milkweed in our pollinator garden in Vacaville, Calif. We give them a  choice. The species...

A monarch caterpillar feeding on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A monarch caterpillar feeding on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch caterpillar feeding on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch nectaring on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A monarch nectaring on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch nectaring on tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bees and other pollinators frequent tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Honey bees and other pollinators frequent tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bees and other pollinators frequent tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 3:28 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources

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