The number of Monarch butterflies out in the Front Garden seems to have peaked. For a while there were 6 or 7 at any typical moment, just recently it’s dropped to 3 or 4. I take this to mean that the core of the southern Monarch migration has passed through our area. Within a week or two they will be gone altogether.
Chip Taylor of Monarch Watch divides the yearly Monarch migration into 6 overlapping stages:
- Overwintering in Mexico (late October to early April);
- Migrating north through Mexico (late February through April);
- Breeding in the US (March and April);
- “Recolonization” of the area north of the 37th parallel (a line very close to the southern borders of Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, and Kansas) – May to early June;
- Summer breeding (June to August);
- Fall migration back to Mexico (August to October).
It’s funny to think that during the migration, it’s most likely different individual Monarchs that I’m seeing in the garden every day.
In his August newsletter, Chip Taylor expressed uncharacteristic optimism about the Monarch population trends for the coming months. He said that “Stage 5 recolonization has been excellent with respect to both timing and numbers” – though much less so in the Northeast.
He predicted an overwintering population in Mexico covering 5-6 hectares, in the same ballpark as last winter but high in the context of the last dozen years.
So, there is some cause to feel guardedly optimistic for the near term.
Monarch on Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia).
This year Monarchs’ late summer favorites have been Mexican Sunflower, Zinnias, and Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum).
This fall I’ll be planting some Meadow Blazing Star (Liatris ligulistylis). Based on the photographs posted by friends, this plant is an absolute Monarch magnet, so I’m excited to add it to our garden.
Here’s a Monarch sharing a flower with a Painted Lady. They look like they’re out on a date!
The Monarch migration in Eastern North America remains highly precarious, so gardeners and others should keep adding native Milkweeds to their gardens. In the meantime, it is inspiring to watch this butterfly as it journeys once again to its winter home, setting the stage for next summer’s return.
gardeninacity 
We have seen more this year than the last couple of years combined. It has been wonderful. Your pictures are excellent.
Thank you! Let’s hope next year is even better.
I just released one of the my last monarchs this morning. Wished it well on its journey south!
Good for you! We didn’t raise any caterpillars this year, sadly.
Love that last photo! I can’t believe some of the roost photos and videos people are sharing! Last weekend, there was even a major roost down at the Wisconsin state capitol! We seem to see monarchs right up until the first hard freeze. Their numbers dwindle, however, after the first frost. I can remember seeing quite a few one year at Olbrich gardens in early October. I can’t believe I found a caterpillar yesterday!
I can’t believe all those roost photos, either! Actually I am quite jealous. I’ve never seen a Monarch roost.
Monarch Watch says the peak of the migration for our latitude — roughly 29N — is mid-October. I know there were remarkable sightings last year. I’ll have to keep track of them myself during this migration.
Have they shown up yet?
I’ve heard of people seeing a few, but it’s hard to say whether those are migrants. We’re still about 3-4 weeks out from their peak time.
Beautiful monarchs – what lovely pictures! 🙂 So glad there’s hope for a comeback.
For right now, at least.
I saw more this year than I have in the last few years.
Same here.
Nice–and hopeful–post. Lovely photos, I’m looking forward to some flitting through in the next month or so, before they head to Mexico.
Something to look forward to. Also the hummingbird migration. Do any hummers overwinter in Austin?
Incredible photos! They sure can put on a show!
Yes they can!
This weekend starts the peak Monarch migration in our area. We are going to a Monarch Festival this Saturday to watch them catch and tag Monarchs. I think it will be interesting.
Sounds like fun!
That is such good news – goes to show that we, as individuals, can certainly make a difference.
It may not be all that is needed, but at least it helps.
This is such a hopeful story & a credit to the efforts made in the US to increase the amount of Monarch butterflies. Great photos .. especially the last one.
Thank you!
Such gorgeous photos. Waiting to see monarchs here in October.
Saw 7 this morning when I left for work.
Your Monarchs are such beautiful butterflies and you have some wonderful photos of them. You seem to have some magnets for them already. 🙂 I also find it fascinating to watch our migrating butterflies and birds making tremendous journeys simply by instinct.
And such tiny creatures traveling vast distances. One of the miracles of nature.
Yes! Some good news. Like Judy, I’ve seen more this year than in the past few years combined.
Which has certainly lifted my spirits.
We need everything we can get right now.
They are so pretty in other people’s gardens, but when they swarm, they are like a science fiction movie.
Guess I have never seen them swarm. I’d like to, though.
Those who witness it say it is spectacular. I avoid the blue gum groves when the butterflies are swarming, mainly because I do not want to run over those on the warm pavement of the roadways. I suppose I should see it directly eventually. I could have walked in from where I used to live.
Just wonderful photos, I did enjoy them. How lucky you are to see such a beautiful butterfly. I wish we had them. I am always in awe of butterfly migrations, it’s astonishing to think it’s even possible.xxx
It does seem pretty miraculous for creatures so small and delicate.
I began something this year that I’ve never done before I’m actually tracking the number of monarch butterfly sawdust in my yard each day. I call it my HMBY post. I even bought a milkweed from my local Big Box hardware store so that I could try to attract more. I have a neighbor that has a registered monarch waystation and she gave me some seed from the milkweed she had which is a different variety. I’m hoping by next year I’ll be fully stocked and ready to attract more.
Sounds like a great project, I’m tempted to do the same.