Tag: Monarch butterfly

In praise of Monarchs!

But not of the royal variety.

Last week, author and blogger (4am Writer) Kate Johnston published a post about getting 1 million supporters to help save the monarch butterfly. Kate was very happy for me to republish that here on Learning from Dogs. Please read it and sign up.

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Join the Monarch Squad

/ 4 days ago

World Wildlife Fund has set a goal – getting 1 million supporters to help save the monarch butterfly.

Threatened by illegal logging, global warming, herbicide use, and vanishing food source (milkweed) for caterpillars, monarchs are in serious danger.

“Now more than ever, Mexico, the United States, and Canada should increase their conservation efforts to protect and restore the habitat of this butterfly along its migratory route,” said Omar Vidal, Director General for WWF-Mexico.

Last year, I began planting my own butterfly garden in an effort to help provide a habitat for monarch butterflies, and any other form of wildlife that might seek food and shelter there.

BEFORE

Ready for planting!
Ready for planting!

AFTER

Not very organized and probably have too much in there, but I didn’t expect everything to take off the way it did!
Not very organized and probably have too much in there, but I didn’t expect everything to take off the way it did!
Turtles come through my backyard every summer to lay their eggs in the same place. Each generation of turtle somehow knows the exact route, like they have their own inner GPS.
Turtles come through my backyard every summer to lay their eggs in the same place. Each generation of turtle somehow knows the exact route, like they have their own inner GPS.
See the butterfly in the middle of the milkweed? This is not a monarch, as it has no white spots. I think it might be a fritillary, maybe the variegated species.
See the butterfly in the middle of the milkweed? This is not a monarch, as it has no white spots. I think it might be a fritillary, maybe the variegated species.
This is a harmless garter snake, and they love my garden!
This is a harmless garter snake, and they love my garden!
Just a baby, though. Hubs still took off, so my son had to take the pics.
Just a baby, though. Hubs still took off, so my son had to take the pics.
Hubs nearly ran over this guy with the mower. I had to come and get it ‘cuz it’s a snapping turtle!
Hubs nearly ran over this guy with the mower. I had to come and get it ‘cuz it’s a snapping turtle!

Spring is just around the corner in the US, and the monarch butterflies will be heading along their migratory route, back to their northern homes. They will be in search of food and shelter. They will need milkweed, the only plant on which they lay their eggs and the one food source for their babies.

If you have a backyard, won’t you consider providing a home for some beautiful monarchs? Even if you’re sans yard, you can still fight for their survival.

Join the Monarch Squad

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So, please sign up and share this as widely as you can.

For everyone’s sake!

dog-nose

Magical nature

Big thanks to Dogkisses’ Blog for highlighting this video from National Geographic.

Nothing to add to the video – just watch it, be enthralled and reflect on our need to be in spiritual harmony with our beautiful planet Earth. (N.B. for whatever reason, I was unable to embed the code in this Post so you will have to click here to watch this short video.  But do it’s magical.)

Then if you want more, watch this: