When I discovered a rogue milkweed plant in the yard of my new home, I quickly realized it was an egg-laying hot spot for monarch butterflies. And when the caterpillars that hatched kept getting snatched up by garden ghoulies, my partner and I set out to save them. The monarch population has dropped like crazy in the last few decades, which is a huge bummer since the butterflies are devastatingly beautiful and crucial pollinators, boosting all kinds of ecosystems on their transcontinental migration. Here’s how to create a monarch-friendly habitat yourself, where you’ll get to witness all the “Whoa! Nature!” moments of their life cycle.
Grow milkweed: Milkweed is the only plant monarch caterpillars eat, so it’s also the only place monarch butterflies lay their eggs. Choose a milkweed species native to your area (find details at monarchwatch.org/waystations) and plant it somewhere it will get six hours of sun a day.
Plant flowers: To make your yard especially hospitable, plant some native nectar-producing flowers, preferably close to the milkweed for maximum butterfly protection. Pick ones that will bloom from early spring through fall, so monarchs can stop for an energizing sip on their route from Canada to Mexico (where they winter). These two steps are the most important for monarch conservation. But the next ones will get you up close and personal with these pretties.
Make a safe space: Monarchs will lay their teeny-tiny eggs on the underside of your milkweed leaves sometime during the spring and summer, depending on your locale. Once we saw eggs, we potted our milkweed and brought it indoors. You can also bring single leaves inside and place them in a container, like a large glass jar covered with netting. But it’s even better if you leave the eggs outside, so the monarch gets all the right cues from being in the wild. Ensconce the leaves with eggs in a butterfly mesh pop-up tent (available online) or a screened wood-frame enclosure (which you can DIY or find on Etsy). Eggs will hatch about four days after they’ve been laid.
Feed and release them: The caterpillars start munching milkweed leaves right away, and they can eat a lot as they get bigger, so be sure to have plenty on hand, adding fresh leaves to your enclosure every day. In 10 to 14 days, the caterpillar will find a place to hang like a little “J,” shed its skin, and turn into a bright jade pupa with glittering gold speckles. Try to catch this transformation—it happens fast and it’s totally wild. In 10 to 14 days, the chrysalis will become translucent, and you’ll know the butterfly is about to emerge once you can see it inside. When it breaks free, it will need a few hours for its wings to dry. Make sure it’s warm and sunny out, then let it fly!
–Lisa Butterworth
Wing Woman
Help boost the butterfly population with this guide to mothering monarchs
When I discovered a rogue milkweed plant in the yard of my new home, I quickly realized it was an egg-laying hot spot for monarch butterflies. And when the caterpillars that hatched kept getting snatched up by garden ghoulies, my partner and I set out to save them. The monarch population has dropped like crazy in the last few decades, which is a huge bummer since the butterflies are devastatingly beautiful and crucial pollinators, boosting all kinds of ecosystems on their transcontinental migration. Here’s how to create a monarch-friendly habitat yourself, where you’ll get to witness all the “Whoa! Nature!” moments of their life cycle.
Grow milkweed: Milkweed is the only plant monarch caterpillars eat, so it’s also the only place monarch butterflies lay their eggs. Choose a milkweed species native to your area (find details at monarchwatch.org/waystations) and plant it somewhere it will get six hours of sun a day.
Plant flowers: To make your yard especially hospitable, plant some native nectar-producing flowers, preferably close to the milkweed for maximum butterfly protection. Pick ones that will bloom from early spring through fall, so monarchs can stop for an energizing sip on their route from Canada to Mexico (where they winter). These two steps are the most important for monarch conservation. But the next ones will get you up close and personal with these pretties.
Make a safe space: Monarchs will lay their teeny-tiny eggs on the underside of your milkweed leaves sometime during the spring and summer, depending on your locale. Once we saw eggs, we potted our milkweed and brought it indoors. You can also bring single leaves inside and place them in a container, like a large glass jar covered with netting. But it’s even better if you leave the eggs outside, so the monarch gets all the right cues from being in the wild. Ensconce the leaves with eggs in a butterfly mesh pop-up tent (available online) or a screened wood-frame enclosure (which you can DIY or find on Etsy). Eggs will hatch about four days after they’ve been laid.
Feed and release them: The caterpillars start munching milkweed leaves right away, and they can eat a lot as they get bigger, so be sure to have plenty on hand, adding fresh leaves to your enclosure every day. In 10 to 14 days, the caterpillar will find a place to hang like a little “J,” shed its skin, and turn into a bright jade pupa with glittering gold speckles. Try to catch this transformation—it happens fast and it’s totally wild. In 10 to 14 days, the chrysalis will become translucent, and you’ll know the butterfly is about to emerge once you can see it inside. When it breaks free, it will need a few hours for its wings to dry. Make sure it’s warm and sunny out, then let it fly!
