Date: 07/31/2014

Number: 2

This morning at 10:44 AM I was ecstatic when I spotted 2 large and very healthy looking adult Monarchs feeding on a buckwheat cover crop. I grew buckwheat both to enrich my garden soil and also support pollinators. A friend down the street keeps 7 bee hives. For the last few weeks I've seen and heard the humming of many winged pollinators on the blossoms. I also have generous stands of wild milkweed in the meadow of Little Bluestem grasses and wildflowers. Last year was the first that I hadn't observed any Monarchs. This year I'd heard they arrived in Maine a couple of weeks ago but didn't observe them myself - 'til now. What I strive for is to conserve the native ecosystem on this piece of land to support wildlife. To everyone who's reading, you can help our environment and wildlife by getting rid of your lawns and growing plants native to your part of the country. I'm sorry I can't include a photo. I was so excited to see the unexpected arrival, my oatmeal breakfast boiled over the pot when I ran to get my binoculars. By the time I got outside, there was only one left on the buckwheat but it flew off when I got to close. The blossoms on my milkweed are finished, but I do see the green seed pods. I hope the Monarchs haven't arrived too late.

Brunswick, ME

Latitude: 43.9 Longitude: -70

Observed by: Louisa
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