Those of you who visited the North Central Louisiana Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale noticed a new addition to this annual event- the Monarch butterfly conservation booth. Well, there’s a story behind that booth that you’ll really enjoy!
In 2014, Master Gardener Dee Hutson was wandering through
her garden checking on the status of her plants when she noticed orange caterpillars
on her passion vine. Many of us would have been horrified by a pest daring to
munch holes in our leaves, but Dee wisely recognized the role her garden was
playing in the Circle of Life. Leaving the caterpillars to grow, she was able
to experience their transformation into approximately 30 beautiful gulf fritillary
butterflies that spent the summer flitting around her lantana, one of their
nectar plants. “At that moment I was hooked,” relates Dee, “I read everything I
could about host plants for different types of butterflies.”
During her research, Dee became especially interested in the
plight of the monarch butterfly. Two environmental groups have petitioned for
the monarchs’ protection under the Endangered Species Act. The Center for
Biological Diversity states that “In addition to herbicide use with genetically
engineered crops, monarchs are also threatened by global climate change,
drought and heat waves, other pesticides, urban sprawl, and logging on their
Mexican wintering grounds.”
Dee notes, “I wanted to do my part. Donna White and I were
chairing the Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale at the time so I spoke to her
about growing milkweed, the monarch’s host plant, for the sale. She was in
agreement.” The ladies didn’t know if the milkweed would sell, but took a
chance. Much to their surprise, they sold out in only a few minutes!
Dee started growing milkweed in her garden that year. She
was excited to soon find eggs on the leaves. She brought 20 eggs indoors to
foster. “I had no idea what to do, but went to monarchwatch.org and it guided me step by step.” In about
four days, Dee’s eggs had hatched into caterpillars that were happily munching
on milkweed. Each time she went outside to cut more milkweed, she found more
eggs and caterpillars. “I couldn’t leave them out there, knowing that only 10% of
monarchs reach adulthood due to their countless predators. During this time my
family had a trip planned to our camp in Mississippi. Well, the caterpillars
had to come along!”
Packing what she thought would be enough milkweed for two
weeks, off they went on their trip. But Dee underestimated the voracious
appetite of her new “babies” and found herself running out of food. Thankfully
the Hammond Research Station of the LSU AgCenter was just an hour from her
camp. “I contacted Allen Owings, one of the AgCenter’s horticulturists, and he
told me to come over and get all the milkweed I wanted!”
Soon the caterpillars began to climb to the top of their
habitat to form their “J” position in preparation for forming the chrysalis.
Then for 10 days, Dee waited for the chrysalis to become transparent, signaling
that the new monarchs were about to emerge. “It’s so exciting!” exclaims Dee.
“Their wings come out very small. The first time I saw them I thought I had
raised deformed butterflies, but as you watch, the wings grow to full size
within minutes. It’s an amazing sight to see!”
The new monarchs hang upside down for a couple of hours
allowing their wings to dry. Then they are ready to fly. Dee released 50
butterflies that year. It is important to have nectar plants in your yard for
the butterflies’ release. Nectar plants include coneflower, zinnia, lantana,
penta, and butterfly bush.
Now you know the story behind the Monarch Conservation booth
at the Master Gardener Plant Sale. “This experience was nature at its best,”
confirms Dee, “I was like a kid! It was awesome to watch the transformation!”
Thank you, Dee Hutson, for reminding us that gardening is about more than just
growing pretty flowers!
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