Just Call Me the …

… Crazy Caterpillar Lady.  Last summer I was beguiled by baby hummingbirds.  This summer I’ve been captivated by caterpillars and enthralled by stunning Monarch butterflies.  Bringing caterpillars and chrysalides home have had a domino-effect of complementary activities: 

I’ve bought & planted milkweed.  And I’ve grown/planted milkweed from cuttings.
Helpful links:  http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/prop.htm
https://monarchbutterflygarden.net/grow-from-cuttings/
I’ve released my baby butterflies in the backyard – had them dry their new wings – on the milkweed I planted.  They’ve laid lots of eggs!


I’ve attempted to grow pentas from cuttings (slow process, so I just bought a gallon-size penta).
Helpful link:  http://homeguides.sfgate.com/make-cuttings-pentas-72098.html
http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1926357/easiest-way-to-root-penta-cuttings  (3rd comment down, juneroses)


I have harvested milkweed seed…
Helpful link:  http://www.ourhabitatgarden.org/creatures/milkweed-growing.html

Growing from seed instructions & trimming instructions to promote thicker growth:  http://www.livemonarch.com/growinginstructions.htm

Buying inexpensive small live milkweed plants:  http://www.livemonarch.com/store_plants.php

The last milkweed cutting I brought home apparently had butterfly eggs on it, as baby caterpillars showed up about a week later.  So yesterday I decided to go ahead and build a cheap domicile for them… (btw, all thanks to Anita for this geniously inexpensive and easy-to-make caterpillar habitat!) 
Helpful link: http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1786871/homemade-rearing-eclosing-cage


There.  Hopefully, I’ve remembered & listed all the helpful sites, so I can easily find them again after I forget all this :-p.