The turf-to-bed conversion continues as we begin to transform a drought-damaged downtown San Antonio yard into a butterfly garden. Favorite host plants will be transplanted from Austin, we'll buy several new plants in the spring and plan our seedling strategy for early January. Read all about it, and let us know if you have questions.
Inadvertent Monarch butterfly massacre near Monterrey, Mexico begs vexing questions about preserving their migration.
First-of-season Monarch butterflies sighted on the Llano River in the Texas Hill Country. With little nectar, drought ravaged roosts, and wildfires across the landscape, Monarchs will find a less-than-welcoming rest stop when they hit Central and South Texas in October.
What's in store for Texas' Monarch butterfly migration this year? The outlook is grim, with drought, fires, and herbicide tolerant crops making for a challenging season and lower numbers. Still, Monarchs MUST fly through Texas to get to Mexico. Which route will they choose--Hill Country or the Coast?
Happy first birthday to the Texas Butterfly Ranch blog, where we love the whole life cycle. Read on to learn how we came about blogging and how our education continues.
Milkweed for Monarchs seedpods are ready for harvesting in Texas gardens and along highways. Gather seeds now to make butterfly host plants for tomorrow and beyond. The silky milkweed fluff is an intriguing material once used in aviation lifejackets, too. Who knew?
Monarch Watch released its State of the Monarch Population report last week and the news was not good. Texas gardeners can help by planting more milkweed.
Ever wonder about the best way to raise caterpillars [...]
Tips from the Llano River on how to find Monarch butterfly eggs and caterpillars plus a tour of the Texas Hill Country attest to the enduring resilience of native milkweed plants.
Gardening shown to be good for your health according to Aggie study. Butterflies benefit, too, when gardeners apply themselves to providing host plants.