Remi McDuff

Bruce Woodford wrote:I have never noticed any more than 1 or 2 monarch butterflies together before. But the last month, we have seen swarms/flocks/herds/gaggles (what do you call groups of Monarchs anyway?) around the trees in our yard about an hour before sundown and early in the morning. But the last week with the unseasonably warm temps (up to mid 90's F in the daytime) we have seen groups of Monarchs flitting around the trees all day long!  Has anyone else noticed anything similar?

Monarchs are an amazing creature. They migrate from here in Canada (I don't know how far north they migrate) and then travel south into the Southern states, Mexico and maybe beyond during the winter. There are 5 generations or more between those which leave here in the fall and those which return in spring and summer. So not one of them has ever been here before! Yet they know how to navigate back here each year and generations later, others know how to take the trip south where they have never travelled before either!!!

We have an amazing Creator!

Hey Bruce! I guess I should say I'm your neighbour! Quebecker, here. We've been having something similar happening here, although, Monarchs have mostly managed to make the trip down south. I was told the violent hurricanes down south and in the Antilles have turned the wind from a normal north to south course to a south to north course, which impedes their migration. In my area it's Painted Lady Butterflies that are caught unawares and have to stick around for a bit longer. It would make sense if you are from southern Ontario, that Monarchs would be stuck in your area. I consider you lucky, really! You should advantage of this opportunity and take some pictures for us! =)

Anne Miller wrote:Gorgeous pictures, thanks for sharing.

Did you have a lot of Monarch butterflies?

We had some, sadly not as much as I would've liked. Quebec is the end of their migration north, so we never get many. So, it motivates me to give the ones that do make it up here to have a treat at least.

Roberto pokachinni wrote:If I hadn't already given out my apple of the day, I would give it to you, Remi.  Thanks for making the ID.    

Glad to help! This post made me find the site, after all.

So, last winter I stumbled onto videos about the Monarch Butterfly on Youtube. I decided to do my part and turn my bland yard into something bees and butterflies would enjoy. I have managed to attract quite q few things! Sadly I couldn't get it all on camera, but, I figured some people on here would be interested...

First of all, I should mention what I have in my yard. Blackberries and Raspberries, two Buddleia bushes (One pink, one purple), Milkweed (Asclepias Syriaca, Asclepias Incarnata), Bee Balm (Red, Purple)

I plan to add Lobelia Cardinalis, and Oenothera Biennis. A butterfly garden is rather tricky where I live, as it is a 4b, or 5b zone. We have to deal with a rather hardy winter, so not every plant that are optimal for bees and butterfly will survive. I also try to integrate as many native species as I can.

Any way here is a few pictures.

Reviving this, since I have been able to identify this plant with some confidence...

First off, I have found this plant in my yard in the past. Living in Quebec, and decided to let it grow for once this year, since I am working on a butterfly garden project. I figured weeds was the way to go, along with some non-native nectar rich Buddleia bushes. Anyway, this plant is totally a Mullein lookalike, as I was, like the original poster, convinced for some time that I was growing Verbascum Thapsus . Both are excessively similar. Long stalks, similar leaves, flowers both in form and color. Heights as well. But every posters here were correct, the seed pod is very different! By using the picture search on google, I found this...

Common Evening Primrose

If you scroll down to the illustration on your right, the seed pods are unmistakable. Gorgeous plant, I am totally going to harvest these next year, along with some Lobelia Cardinalis