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Post by honker on Jul 30, 2018 19:31:52 GMT -6
The past two years I have mowed and sprayed the old pasture on a portion of my land. This year I am seeing it payoff as large sections of the pasture grass has now been replaced with golden rod, milkweed, and other native flowers. I have seen more monarchs on the property this year than the past 4-5 years combined. I’ve heard it’s a good year for them, I’m wondering if that has something to do with the late spring snow/freeze that killed a bunch of robins and other song birds. I’m guessing the milkweed explosion has helped as well. I watched 6 monarchs and a dozen bees cruising around one patch of milkweed this weekend. It’s not all about the deer Some shots on the property of target areas    |
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Post by sd51555 on Jul 30, 2018 19:38:09 GMT -6
I've got a dandy crop of milkweed myself and have also seen some monarchs. Usually get a bumper crop of golden rod too. The neighborhood is crawling in ox eye daisy and black eyed susan.
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Post by benmnwi on Jul 30, 2018 21:53:33 GMT -6
Looks nice. Any issues with thistles or wild parsnip?
Did you disk it up or plant anything or just spray and let nature fill it in?
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Post by benmnwi on Jul 30, 2018 21:53:43 GMT -6
Looks nice. Any issues with thistles or wild parsnip?
Did you disk it up or plant anything or just spray and let nature fill it in?
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Post by honker on Jul 30, 2018 22:32:41 GMT -6
Looks nice. Any issues with thistles or wild parsnip? Did you disk it up or plant anything or just spray and let nature fill it in? Thanks. I didn't disk it as I didn't want to release any weed banks. I mowed it early last summer, some spots again in later on, and then sprayed it early this spring when the grass was just starting to green up and let nature take over. No wild parsnips, minimal thistle so far. I plan on repeating the spraying next spring to keep the cool season grasses at bay and keep giving the natives a chance to reestablish. Was thinking of doing a burn at some point, but a lot less nerve wracking running a sprayer or mower. |
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Post by Catscratch on Jul 31, 2018 3:44:41 GMT -6
Cool! What are you spraying with?
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Post by honker on Jul 31, 2018 5:58:54 GMT -6
Cool! What are you spraying with? GlyStar Plus at around 3% Glyphosate concentration. |
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Post by jbird on Jul 31, 2018 16:23:28 GMT -6
The dried pods make great wind indicators as well. I still have left-over from last year.
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Post by honker on Aug 11, 2018 17:28:56 GMT -6
My youngest son has been collecting caterpillars and raising/releasing the butterflies this summer. He is up to 9. He currently has 4 in Chrysalis stage right now. Good fun for him.   |
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Post by leexrayshady on Aug 11, 2018 18:20:15 GMT -6
My kids have 2 in cocoons right now on the window sill. How long once they go in so they emerge? I heard somewhere they the reason there are so many catipillars is because of the late snow storm looked a bunch of birds
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Post by honker on Aug 11, 2018 18:31:24 GMT -6
My kids have 2 in cocoons right now on the window sill. How long once they go in so they emerge? I heard somewhere they the reason there are so many catipillars is because of the late snow storm looked a bunch of birds Usually a week or so. That was my theory as well |
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Post by daydreamer on Aug 11, 2018 22:26:03 GMT -6
My daughter ended up doing 24 monarchs this summer. Banner year. Fun projects for the kids. 10-14 days normally in the chrysalides for the monarchs anyways. Milkweed is king.
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