Backyard Orchard News
A Look Back at 2016: Monarch Butterflies Reigned
What a marvelous year! Looking back at 2016, monarch butterflies reigned supreme--or at least they...
This tagged butterfly, part of WSU entomologist David James' migratory research project, flew from Ashland, Ore. on Aug. 28 to Vacaville, Calif. on Sept. 5, or a distance of 285 miles in seven days, or about 40.7 miles a day. It was reared and tagged by Steve Johnson of Ashland and was on its way to an overwintering site along coastal California. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A monarch butterfly laying an egg. Monarchs lay their eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves, their host plant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A tiny monarch egg. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A monarch caterpillar munching away on showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The jade-green chrysalids, rimmed in gold, look like precious jewels. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A newly eclosed monarch. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Its wings dried, a newly eclosed monarch is ready for release. This one decided to linger. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Monarch nectaring on milkweed blossoms. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A male monarch spreads its wings on Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Our Story Begins with Eight Monarch Caterpillars in the Dead of Winter
This is a story about how eight monarch butterflies escaped the freezing temperatures of Vacaville,...
Rita LeRoy of Vallejo holds a Vacaville monarch before releasing it at Lighthouse Field State Park. (Photo by Walter Rockholt)
Monarchs overwintering in the Lighthouse Field State Park, Santa Cruz. (Photo by Rita LeRoy)
Monarchs fluttering in the warm breeze at Lighthouse Field State Park, Santa Cruz. (Photo by Rita LeRoy)
Multiple monarchs nectaring on Eucalyptus blossoms at the overwintering site in Santa Cruz. (Photo by Rita LeRoy)
A Beer for a Butterfly or 'Suds for a Bug'
It's almost that time again—time for the annual “Beer for a Butterfly” contest or...
This is a cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Learn About Native Bees from Robbin Thorp
If you want to learn about native bees, the place to "bee" on Saturday, Jan. 7 is the Rush Ranch...
A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenski, exits a foxglove. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Monarch Butterflies: Eight Is Not Nearly Enough
Back in March of 1977, ABC launched a TV comedy-drama series titled "Eight Is Enough." It was...
A monarch ecloses on Tuesday, Dec. 27 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Three mighty monarchs, with five expected soon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Monarchs mingling. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A monarch feeding in its indoor habitat. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)