The official blog of Grow Milkweed Plants. Current milkweed information. Monarch study and rearing from first hand experiences.

Monterey Bay Monarchs

11/21/2014

Natural Bridges State Beach butterfly trail Nov/14

I am visited two main overwintering sites for monarch butterflies. The first is Natural Bridges State Beach. NBSB has a butterfly trail that leads into a eucalyptus tree grove. In the eucalyptus trees high above there are many monarch butterflies hanging in clusters. I have been this site many times. This time I saw more butterflies than I have in the past. In 2012 I arrived in late January. Due to the warm weather the monarchs had left the eucalyptus grove and began their search for milkweed.

The weather in the monarch grove today was typical coastside winter weather. Fog and a cool breeze of the ocean. The monarchs are inactive for the most part. I was surprised to see about 15 monarch flying in the eucalyptus grove. It's possible that they were just arriving or that they were repositioning on their clusters. There is nectar in the area. They may have been out feeding on nectar,

I used a 12.1 MP Cannon point and shoot camera on a tripod to get the photos I have featured on the sidebar. As an amateur photographer it is difficult to get a clear photo of butterflies hanging on a tree 75 to 100+ feet above you. Not to mention that your neck can become sore after gazing into the monarch clusters for a long time. With some patience and adjustments I am happy to share what I saw.

Milkweed butterfly garden at Natural Bridges S.B.

The park has done a great job increasing the amount of milkweed in their monarch butterfly milkweed garden. On my visit in 2012 there were only 3-5 plants that were eaten down to stems.

But as you can see in the slide show. There are many monarch caterpillars on healthy milkweed. I have one criticism. I guess I don't understand why all of their milkweed is non-native. I mean their in an area where there are like 20 native milkweed species. But the milkweed I see is African milkweed and Tropical milkweed. I will not complain about the non-native milkweed anymore because the caterpillars seem very happy and healthy. But I did run a short video on youtube about cutting back tropical milkweed in the winter. You can view the video titled Cutting back tropical milkweed for the winter.

Pacific Grove; Butterfly Town U.S.A. Nov/14

On November 15th 2014 a count of the monarchs at Pacific Grove was preformed. On that day 24,000 monarchs were confirmed to be in their monarch sanctuary. The count was 10,000 more monarchs than were there in 2013, just one year earlier.

Seeing is believing. View the slide show now.

There are few experiences that are as simple as the swarm of monarchs that evoke so much emotion. The forrest is silent while holding thousands of tiny black and orange flying insects. Its really a remarkable event.

November 2014 Monarch butterflies cluster at natural bridges state beach butterfly trail

Monarch butterflies in a cluster at Natural Bridges butterfly trail. 11/21/2014

Monarch butterfly cluster pacific grove california

Monarchs 11/22/14 Pacific Grove

1 Comment

San Diego Monarchs

11/14/2014

Monarch butterflies overwinter in many locations. Is San Diego one of them?

Stop 1: Grape Street Park, Balboa Park S.D.

On Thursday November 13th I set out for San Diego in search of overwintering monarch butterflies. The information leading me on this expedition was scarce. The information at monarchprogram.org seems current and credible. So it was enough to get me thinking I would see monarchs. The first overwintering site that I visited is the Eucalyptus trees at the upper boarder of Balboa Park in San Diego. The location is adjacent to the Grape St. Dog Park.

The Grape St location didn't have the monarchs that I expected. I knew it wasn't a large site in terms of many thousand monarchs. I just expected to see more than four. The total numbers I observed was four monarchs.

Stop 2: Presidio Park, Old Town S.D.

High in the hill above Old Town S.D. is Presidio Park. It is also the second site that I went to in search of overwintering monarch butterflies. I will preface this story with the fact that despite seeing no monarchs, this is a beautiful park and worth visiting.

The temperature here during my visit on November 13th was a solid 70º. With warm temps like this the monarchs likely think its still early fall. They are out finding nectar on the many blooming flowers around S.D. As the daily high becomes cooler the monarchs will find the protected places like Presidio Park and Grape Street Park to rest in until the warm spring air returns. Further to the north in Santa Cruz and Pacific Grove the temps are a little cooler and the monarch numbers are higher.

Where will I go next?
Pacific Grove and Natural Bridges S.B.

On Nov, 8th I was sent a photo of monarchs clustering at Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz.

Post by Mathieu Simms.

On November 20th 2014 My wife and I will get a first hand look at these monarchs. We are visiting both major overwintering sites for monarch butterflies. Natural Bridges State Beach and Pacific Grove. Did you know Pacific Grove has adopted the nickname "Butterfly Town U.S.A." I thinks thats pretty cool.

Balboa Park Grape St. Dog Park and Monarch overwintering site

There is a monarch in this tree that is hidden by the leaves.

Hummingbird with rainbow in background

Monterey Bay Monarchs

Natural Bridges State Beach butterfly trail Nov/14

Milkweed butterfly garden at Natural Bridges S.B.

Pacific Grove; Butterfly Town U.S.A. Nov/14

Seeing is believing. View the slide show now.

San Diego Monarchs

Monarch butterflies overwinter in many locations. Is San Diego one of them?

Stop 1: Grape Street Park, Balboa Park S.D.

Stop 2: Presidio Park, Old Town S.D.

Where will I go next?
Pacific Grove and Natural Bridges S.B.

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Monterey Bay Monarchs

Natural Bridges State Beach butterfly trail Nov/14

Milkweed butterfly garden at Natural Bridges S.B.

Pacific Grove; Butterfly Town U.S.A. Nov/14

Seeing is believing. View the slide show now.

San Diego Monarchs

Monarch butterflies overwinter in many locations. Is San Diego one of them?

Stop 1: Grape Street Park, Balboa Park S.D.

Stop 2: Presidio Park, Old Town S.D.

Where will I go next? Pacific Grove and Natural Bridges S.B.

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Where will I go next?
Pacific Grove and Natural Bridges S.B.