Gardening in Fuerteventura

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Found a fasciated bloom on my Hylocereus/Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit today!

[Tardis]

There is at least one chrysalis in our garden at the moment which we hope will produce another Monarch in a few days time.

Here’s an update on my post of 5 September.

We ended up with three Monarch butterflies which have remained in our garden.  Yesterday, we noticed quite a few eggs and many hatched baby caterpillars (about 1 cm long) on our milkweed.  We think that we might have more caterpillars than the milkweed can cope with.

If that is the case, would any of you like some caterpillars?  It is essential that you have milkweed plants for them to munch on.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Hi Tardis
I have 2 smallish milkweed plants, growing healthily, and no sign of any eggs/caterpillars at the moment. Whereabouts are you? I'd love 1 or 2 caterpillars please.

[Tardis]

Hi Tardis
I have 2 smallish milkweed plants, growing healthily, and no sign of any eggs/caterpillars at the moment. Whereabouts are you? I'd love 1 or 2 caterpillars please.

Hi Tamara

I have sent you a PM

[OMR + MIN]

       

Hi, going to try attaching pics. of the Monarch??? 

Done but seem quite small. What size should they be ? Ohhh! 

[Tardis]

I've attached three photos of Monarch butterflies in our garden.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

I visited Tardis this morning and collected 2 caterpillars, 1 for each of my plants. I've christened them Bill & Ben and they seem to have survived the move very happily, munching away on their new homes. Thank you Tardis for letting me adopt!

I will be delighted if at some point in the future I get butterflies in quantity like in Tardis's garden - it was amazing to see all these Monarchs fluttering around, just beautiful!

I've sown a load of milkweed seed (about half of what I had collected) in the hope of increasing food supply for them - if others have grown from seed please can they post if they needed to do anything special like chilling the seed first, or letting the seeds dry out, or sowing fresh etc. Do cuttings work better?

[OMR + MIN]

Great pics Tardis! Thanks. Wish I had your patience.

With mine couldn't get to the other side of it & it kept moving all the time!  

Just found another caterpillar but oh dear, hardly any leaves left to eat.  

I have sown new seeds from my original plants & they are up & looking really healthy. Next years food! 

[OMR + MIN]

Hi Tamara,

As above; I opened the seed pod before they all blew away. Immediately planted them in general compost in a small pot 4 inches, lightly covered, carefully watered. I put my seed pots in a see through plastic bag for about a week (keeps the water in & don't water again). As I said they are up in about 6 days. Also sowed the new variety, just coming through. Stand them outside in semi shade to start.  Need some light to germinate.

Hope helpful. 

[OMR + MIN]

Thought i saw some painted lady butterflies this morning.

Has anyone else seen them?