Date: 05/01/2004

Number: 1

We HAVE milkweed in Kentucky. I noticed about the first of this month (reported 5/19)some
emerging stalks. When I checked this past weekend, they were at least 12 -
15 inches tall, full of leaves! We'll just have to wait for the monarchs.
Last year, this same milkweed (planted from left-over stalks that had fed
larvae in the classroom) re-leafed itself and grew beautifully in my back
yard. We are adjacent to a nature preserve and I expected to see large
numbers of monarchs. However, the first sighting was not made until early
August. For about a month after that, several monarchs were seen in the
area, and about 50 - 60 larva grew on the stems and leaves of the plants.
Most went through their instars and made their chrysalis, however, I watched
several of the chrysali being eaten by cardinals. I brought most of the
remaining caterpillars into the classroom where we raised about 20 monarchs
and released safely into our school butterfly garden.

Louisville, KY

Latitude: 38.3 Longitude: -85.5

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