Monarchs' Winter Habitat Loss Looms in Mexico!

Top 7. Oct 1, 2000 4:18 PM

» jerrib - Glad you're back Naomi

and such a lovely article full of information you've given us!

Your cousin is stepping right into the program and taking photos. That's great! Bet you taught him a lot while visiting.

I always appreciate the full content you provide and all the wonderful links.

Saw a paper white hanging out the last few days, but not a lot of monarchs this summer, either. Hope folks are doing their best to help them along.

Hope your Sunday is a good one.

Jerri

-- posted by jerrib

Top 8. Oct 1, 2000 10:05 PM

» Naomi_Mathews - Hi, Mary! Thanks for the visit, and your comments...

I'm glad you found this article interesting as well as informative. You're so right, Monarchs do make our world more colorful -- especially for those of you who are lucky enough to have some in your areas! I've been so disappointed this year in not seeing ANY frequent my flowers here. I was gone a good deal, however, and may have missed some -- I'll never know, right?

I hope you did get a chance to check out the links at the end of my article. And YES! It would be an awesome sight indeed to see the millions of Monarchs clinging to those Oyamel fir trees in Mexico. That is just so fascinating, and shows us how faithful "Mother Nature" is to her little creatures. Just seeing them in those photos is awesome too!

Thanks again for the visit, Mary. Keep us updated on your great butterfly sightings. You do keep those boys so entertained, Mary. They must adore you! (-;

-- posted by Naomi_Mathews

Top 9. Oct 1, 2000 10:14 PM

» Naomi_Mathews - Carol, you really are lucky!

I think your yard would be the most PERFECT haven for most any kind of butterfly! And isn't it great that you don't even have to plant your milkweed for those Monarchs? I know it can become a bit invasive, but just think how many Monarchs will love you for having it on your property. (-;

I'm glad to hear you've seen more this year, Carol. Many experts and others believe that the serious drought you had in Pennsylvania last year was one reason they were more scarce. I'm sure there are many factors that enter into the total picture when it comes to the butterfly population as a whole. But like you, I do hope the Monarchs get to hang out in gardens everywhere for years to come.

Thanks for stopping by, Carol. Always appreciate your visits and comments.

-- posted by Naomi_Mathews

Top 10. Oct 1, 2000 10:31 PM

» Naomi_Mathews - Jerri, it's so good to have you stop by....

Thanks for your kind comments, and I'm delighted you found this article and the links informative and interesting. It makes it all worthwhile when I know people can learn more about the world of butterflies through my articles. (-;

Like you, I've not seen many Monarchs this summer (except on our Nebraska and East Coast trips). I have a feeling that around here (apple country), the insecticide sprays that are widely used in the orchards just don't agree with caterpillars, butterflies, OR the milkweed plants. If we take a drive way out into the country where they grow potatoes, corn, peas and other irrigated crops, I do see a lot more milkweed plants than where we live. There are many orchards all around us, and they spray with airplanes, which I'm sure must also hit our yard at times. )-; I suppose that's better than having diseased or "wormy" apples, right? As the old sages say, "Everything's a trade-off!"

My Sunday was great, thank you! And speaking of apples, I took some time to make some homemade applesauce today from some Golden Delicious apples our daughter gave us from her very own trees. My hubby did all the peeling and coring (with a special peeler-corer they sell at our local Apple Commission). I just cook it in my microwave, add some sugar and cinnamon, then put it in pint-sized freezer containers. I think we did around a dozen nice pints -- that was between watching the "nail-biting" MARINERS baseball game! Was that exciting or what??? I am sooooo happy that they won the wild card game -- now we'll see where they go from here!

Thanks again for the visit, Jerri. I think I'm finally getting back to my old self after our two long summer treks. (-;

Take care, and have a great week!

-- posted by Naomi_Mathews

Top 11. Oct 5, 2000 9:11 AM

» Red - Naomi...

I hope that some day the boys remember the lessons I have tried to teach them. I know Brandon will remember the nature lessons. He loved all things that planet earth provides. I started to teach him as soon as he could walk. It was the fall of the year and we stamped in puddles and crushed fallen leaves and smelled their fragrance. He asks thousands of questions about all speicies of wildlife, fowl and insects. He loves Monarchs and those little yellow butterflies that I can't seem to find out what are.

I hope to leave the boys the same legacy as my Dad and Grandma left me. Each month I come here to read your delightful articles so I can learn more about butterflies and pass the knowledge to the boys. Jordan doesn't seem to pay attention but then he will say something that lets me know he was indeed listening.

Take care, Naomi. Hope you can visit me again soon.

-- posted by Red

Top 12. Oct 7, 2000 10:00 PM

» jerrib - Glad you're rooting for the Mariners, too!

Wouldn't that be something if they won??!! I can hardly wait until we know who they're going to play. Hope it's the Yankees, as they have a tough time with the A's - guess we'll know soon.

My hubby's deep into the Husky game this evening. He and a daughter are alumni.

Jerri

-- posted by jerrib

Top 13. Oct 14, 2000 5:58 PM

» Naomi_Mathews - I'm back again after another week away...

Thanks for your visits, Mary and Jerri! I always appreciate both of you stopping by.

Mary: I'm sure your grandsons will grow up knowing a lot about nature and the beautiful creatures to be found in the woods, gardens, lakes, and mountains. What a wonderful legacy to leave to those boys, Mary. Sounds like Brandon is already quite the "nature lover" -- and I'm sure Jordan will pick up on it too under your guidance. Isn't it fun sharing with them the things you learned about nature from your parents and grandparents? They're really lucky to have you as their teacher, Mary. Keep up the great training AND the fun you have, too.

Jerri: I was thrilled when we watched the Mariners win their first game against the Yankees earlier this week while visiting with my brother and his wife. Since then -- like most other Mariner fans -- I've been holding my breath! I DO hope they'll win tonight (Saturday). They're a great team, but the Yankees are too, so I suppose we'll just have to wait and see. (Big sigh!)

While we were gone, it seems that fall has really hit our valley. The trees are spectacular, their leaves turning golden, red, and deep bronze throughout the valley. My garden is about ready to call it quits for the year, which means I'll need to get out my pruning shears next week before the weather turns too chilly. I love fall, but will really miss the nice warm summer weather. AND the butterflies and hummers seem to have taken flight to warmer climes. I'll really miss my Swallowtails and Sulphurs -- they came the most often this summer.

Thank you both for the visit!

-- posted by Naomi_Mathews

Top 14. Oct 20, 2000 8:48 PM

» jerrib - Butterflies and Yankees

Have to say the best team won, Naomi. But at least we got to the playoffs.

We just returned from a week in the SW and sure did enjoy the weather. Now we have to get back into the swing of rain and gray.

We were in Jerome, AZ and saw the most beautiful butterfly, possibly a monarch - I was out of film. But thought you'd like to know the butterflies seem to be doing well in northern AZ.

Be sure to trek over and read the interview I did on the women climbing Mt. Rainier in August. You won't believe it!

Hope all's well.

Jerri

-- posted by jerrib

Top 15. Oct 26, 2000 9:51 PM

» Naomi_Mathews - Hi, Jerri!

I apologize for not getting out here to answer your post, Jerri. Seems all we did during August and September was travel this year. It was great fun, but I'm still playing "catch-up" -- and finally getting rested up! Glad you're back now too, and I'll bet it is really tough coming from sunny Arizona back to "rainy, gray" Western WA.

Yep, our Mariners did good, Jerri. I was very proud of them, even though the Yankees did make it to the finals. AND, tonight those Yankees won the Pennant in the World Series. They are a good team, but I'll always be a Mariner fan.

So you saw a lot of butterflies in Arizona! It's too bad you ran out of film when you saw the one you think was a Monarch. We've been in that same area where you visited in Arizona, many years ago when our children were small. I remember the Sedona area as being quite unique with low rolling hills of red rocks -- am I right? (-;

Take care, Jerri -- and thanks for the visit! I'll "hike on over" to your latest Mt. Rainier article to see what those women were up to!

-- posted by Naomi_Mathews