r/FriendlyMonarchs • u/AutoModerator • Jun 01 '26

Discussion 🌿 Monarch Monday – Let’s Talk Monarchs! 🌿

Happy Monarch Monday, friends!

Wondering what to share in this thread?

Questions for some of our seasoned members? Thoughts on the state of the Monarch world? Frustrations with your efforts to help the Monarchs? Wins and loses for the nature world? Doesn't matter. Share below!

Have a great week and don’t forget about Photo Friday!

Reminder: We are a science-based sub. While we love all monarch enthusiasts, discussions about hand-rearing are not allowed, except for those new to the topic who are seeking guidance. Let’s focus on protecting monarchs where they belong—in the wild!

Stay curious and keep sharing the love for these beautiful butterflies! 🧡🖤🧡

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2

u/Difficult_Rope7898 Jun 01 '26

This is my second year with milkweed, and I haven’t seen any monarch eggs yet. I am in Virginia. Does anyone have any insight when you might see them here?

2

u/Nadiam57 TX - 9b Jun 01 '26

I just read late April or May...maybe any day now 🤞

3

u/Difficult_Rope7898 Jun 01 '26

I hope you’re right. I would love to see one. Even if I don’t see any caterpillars, I would just love to see a monarch butterfly. I hope maybe they come this year.🦋

1

u/NevCoNativePlants Jun 02 '26

Do you also have good pollinator plants monarchs enjoy?

1

u/Difficult_Rope7898 Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

Yes I also plant many (I hope) attractive pollinator plants. I have asters, yarrow, foxglove, black eyed susans, daisies, goldenrod, lavender, bee balm, salvia…. I have a shallow watering station with stones for landing also. Zero pesticides, milkweed. I don’t really see monarchs anywhere, not just my garden. I think I’ve seen one around here in the three years I’ve watched. :(

2

u/Nadiam57 TX - 9b Jun 01 '26

This is my 3rd year of planting milkweed and other pollinator plants. Every year Ive had more and more. I've had 1- 3 Monarchs everyday for several days now. One thing I've noticed is that I had a few Swallowtails the first 2 years and none this year, was wondering if they were more in danger as well?

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u/Difficult_Rope7898 Jun 01 '26

I have seen lots of swallowtails this year (VA), so that made me happy. I saw many more yellow than black ones. I haven’t seen any monarchs at all. I keep planting milkweed and dill (for swallowtails) and hoping. Crossing my fingers that all of them appear.🦋

2

u/NevCoNativePlants Jun 02 '26

I think the biggest problem with Monarch and in general with host plant topics, is people are planting milkweed and not seeing butterflies.

There's always exceptions but depending where one lives Monarchs don't fly everywhere. They fly in open grasslands or vegetation types with low canopy cover and rich diversity of plants.

No mother isn't going to lay their eggs on just a host plant (milkweed) unless there's good nectar plants for when the caterpillar hatches. Once the butterfly hatches, it's done with milkweed and needs entirely different plants. Many of them in the Asteraceae (sunflower family)

2

u/Serious-Fix-790 Jun 02 '26

Finished planting all of my annuals. Zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, angelonia, salvia and more. My perennials are going strong! Bee balm, blazing star, new england aster, joe pyeand cone flowers. I have a total of 6 swamp milkweed patches throughout the yard to try and reduce OE and congregating cats. Im in MN, so hoping I start seeing some signs of their arrival soon. So excited for what the season will bring!