Date: 02/07/2011

Number: 1

Last week we had the third freeze of season, a hard freeze that held its grip for several hours each night. The predicted low for Rio Salado, the habitat where a few monarchs stay, was 26. Winds were strong and constant for three days - sustained in the mid 20 mph range and gusts near 40 mph.

But the habitat was fortunate with the lowest temp in the upper 20's. The thick tree canopy and winding creeks sheltered the few monarchs that were there and they survived. (At my house it dipped to 22 for a comparison.) Yesterday (2/7) I saw mating monarchs for the first time this year at Rio Salado.
The male was a monarch tagged on 12/26 and the female was tagged on 1/9.

Last year we planted 21 native milkweed, Asclepias subulata in the area.
This morning we are adding 3 more A. subulata and 3 native Asclepias linaria. Highs are once again near 70 and lows in the upper 30's. Another cold front is coming through, but it should just dip the temps a bit this time. Of more concern is how dry everything is. The Phoenix and Flagstaff area had the second driest January on record. This doesn't bode well for milkweed and nectar plants across the state as it warms.

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Phoenix, AZ

Latitude: 33.5 Longitude: -112.1

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