At least from what we've seen in our yard, and on projects, the numbers of Monarch butterflies are WAY up. We've raised dozens of larvae and even observed visiting adults lay eggs.
Six larvae (do you see them all?) can make short work of smaller plants. I even relocated two or three to a larger common milkweed growing nearby.
Some neighborhoods maybe have more adults than milkweed to lay eggs on. I was building a rain garden and within minutes after planting, a new swamp milkweed plant had its first egg laid on it!
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| This Monarch Momma laid an egg on a Swamp Milkweed minutes after I planted it! |
I haven't noticed as many honeybees this year (still some), but the clover in our lawn was stunted by dry conditions. Very thankful for the rains this last week!
Native bees abound however!
Bumblebees foraging on borage flowers in the strawberry patch
Along with Monarchs, we've raised a good number of black swallowtail too. We leave an area in parsley and dill mostly just for them.
This butterfly was evidently pretty thirsty as it stopped for a salty drink while I built these raised garden beds.
I've seen more hummingbirds than I ever have in the backyard. I have more columbines, woodland phlox and cardinal flowers now, one of their favorites, which probably has a part to play.
And although not pollinators the goldfinches are numerous and feasting on purple coneflower seedheads, and a Cooper's hawk flew through looking for a meal on the wing this morning; a probable indicator of a ecologically healthy yard.
I hope you are enjoying more and more butterflies, as well as other pollinators, and as always if you need help providing habitat give us a call! We love to design and install designated habitat, or many other features like rain gardens and more include beneficial plants and habitat for pollinators!
You can also learn more by browsing Abundant Design's blog Search: Pollinator
And your local Menards might still have these bee houses available on Clearance-Have a great week!
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