Date: 03/01/2023

Number: 6

Almost all crystals have now turned into monarch butterflies, maybe 6 crystals left and only 3 caterpillars. The milkweed plants are starting to get new growth. Just purchased 3 butterfly weed plants, and have received my giant milkweed seeds. Have read up on the process of germination and have purchased some vermiculite and perlite. The process says to put the seeds in warm water for 24 hours, then put the seeds in a plastic zip lock bag with some vermiculite and some perlite and some peat moss and dampen the mixture, then put it in the refrigerator for 10 to 30 days, then plant the seeds ! We still have quite a few monarch butterflies flying around our garden, I’m not sure if they’re all done laying their eggs or not. But with the 3 butterfly weed plants and the new growth on the 13 milkweed plants we have in our garden, and hopefully a few giant milkweed plants from our seeds, we should be ready for next year’s monarch population in central Florida!

[Altered quantity field from 0 to 6 to reflect number in comment by Journey North, 03/07/2023]

Winter Haven, FL

Latitude: 28.1 Longitude: -81.7

Observed by: Vic
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