“J” stage in caterpillar development
There wasn’t a big going away party last week, but there should have been! The monarchs have left for their wintering grounds in Mexico. It was a rough summer for the monarchs, probably due to the lack of rain here. Most summers, I see monarchs every day gliding on the wind currents, and moving from one flowering plant to another. This summer, I saw very few monarchs. In August there is usually a spike in the population before they migrate, and this summer it was not the case. I know I’ll see some stragglers or maybe a last wave of orange, but their great journey has begun.
Today, I went west to Schaefer Prairie, hoping to catch up with the monarchs, and be in their presence one last one time. There were a few stragglers at the prairie, but the big show was not the monarchs, but the prairie itself. The subtle, but deafening sound of the crickets, the native sunflowers and big bluestem swaying in the gentle breeze; a white tail buck, pheasant and more.
In past years, my experiences with the migrating monarchs have been mixed. A few years back, at the MN Landscape Arboretum, I saw a clump of thousands of monarchs in the trees, only to return the next day with a school group and the butterflies had moved on.
Morning monarch
Another year, I was working at a school on the north side of Lake Minnetonka, and there was a south wind blowing. I discovered about 50 monarchs feeding on New England Aster near the school. The south wind continued for 3 days and the number of monarchs ballooned up to several hundred. They could not make the lake crossing in the strong south wind. I changed my teaching program for the week, and started bringing students out to the asters and the monarchs. It was a magical teaching experience orchestrated by nature: monarchs feeding and students totally captivated. On Friday, I brought my last group out there, and the monarchs were gone. The wind had shifted to the north, and they must have got up into the wind. The students were devastated that the monarchs were not there. I was secretly hoping they had made it all the way to Iowa by nightfall.
Where are the orange travelers headed? Midwestern monarchs travel to the Sierra Madre
Monarchs feeding on milkweed
Mountains in Central Mexico, a journey of over 1500 miles if you live in Minnesota. I have never seen the monarch wintering grounds, but if I had a “bucket list” it would be one of the top ten places I’d like to go. Photos of monarchs in the Sierra Madre shows pine trees “dripping” with orange, and visitors have to watch where they walk, so as not to step on resting butterflies.
My wife and I were in Guadalajara, Mexico last summer, and the “monarca” occupies a special place in hearts of the Mexican people. We saw numerous sculptures and paintings that were adorned with monarchs. The monarch has a special place in my heart, as well. I say good-bye to my orange friends, “Vaya con dios. Voy a ver a ustedes el junio proximo.”
I’m with you in that wish to see the Mexican monarch overwintering site, Larry! Short of that, I recommend a visit to coastal California over winter break. In most years you can see thousands of monarchs at Natural Bridges State Park, right within the city limits of Santa Cruz, or at the monarch sanctuary in Pacific Grove. We were there two winters ago and it was a very moving experience to see so many monarchs drifting on the breezes in a eucalyptus grove. My son and I look forward to their return to our yard this year; as always, we will raise caterpillars and marvel at their growth.
Thanks for the great site!
Cris: I really appreciate the information on monarch wintering grounds. It is good to hear that you are teaching your son the importance about connecting with nature.