https://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/monarch.html

Exciting news. The Monarchs have been sighted in the North East. Actually some have been spotted in NJ.
The link above records sighting.

Pollinator Container Garden Instructions: Butterfly Weed (asclepias-tuberosa)

Butterfly Weed (Perennial)& Bright Light Cosmos, Zinnias (Annual). 

Choose large plastic container. Place seeds in loose soil,press lightly, cover 1/8 inch, place in sunny location, keeping soil moist. Germination time for milkweed 21 -28 days. As milkweed plant matures pinch inner leaves to promote growth. The milkweed is a host plant for Monarch Butterflies whose offspring need to eat the leaves. Don't worry the leaves grow back quickly. and they spread out, getting bushy.

Butterfly Weed (asclepias-tuberosa) is a perennial that comes back yearly, and it needs to go under cold stratification by overwintering outside. If you want an annual garden use Tropical Milkweed.

Trimming Milkweed

You will want to trim your milkweed early June in order to have tender food for Sept/Oct Monarch caterpillars. The image below depicts the cutting line for Common Milkweed.

I pinch the middle leaves of all milkweed varieties to promote growth throughout the season.

It also helps with aphid control if you pinch the early leaves when they first appear.

Image and instructions courtesy Mona Miller.

Raising Monarchs

From Monarch egg to butterfly:

1. Retrieve egg from milkweed or bring plant inside away from predators. Yes, even cute little ladybugs will eat them.
2. Place a slightly moist paper towel in the bottom of a plastic container. (I love the Johnson Popcorn containers).
3. Place moist paper towel on top and put on lid. (You only do this with new eggs-once caterpillars have eaten some of the original leaf just add new milkweed: you no longer need the moist towel on the bottom). I separate the paper towels into layers as not to waste too many towels.
4. After the larvae emerge from the egg in a few days you will want to keep their environment clean.
5. Do not touch them just take the leaf they are on and place it aside and put in new towel and new leaves. Their poop (frass) is a good indication they are healthy-lots of poop=healthy caterpillars. The poop gradually gets larger.
6. Do not disturb them if they are transitioning from one stage (instar) to another-just wait.
7. In a few weeks from the egg stage (give or take a few days) the caterpillar will travel to the top of the container where it will hang out in a "J" shape for a day or so, then it will change into a chrysalis.
8. 10-14 days later it will emerge as a butterfly. Wait a day before you release it (do not touch it if possible). You do not need to give it food (Gatorade or flowers) if you only keep it a day. Really, you need to let it go -they are not pets.

Monarch Population Status 2017

Monarch Population Status

Saturday, February 11th, 2017 at 4:44 pm by Jim
Filed under Monarch Population Status | No Comments »

World Wildlife Fund Mexico in collaboration with SEMARNAT and CONANP and the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) announced the total forest area occupied by overwintering monarch colonies. Thirteen (13) colonies were located this winter season with a total area of 2.91 hectares:

Figure 1. Total Area Occupied by Monarch Colonies at Overwintering Sites in Mexico

2016 counts

2016 Fall Peak Migration of Monarch Butterflies

Start looking to the skies from now until mid-October for our annual orange fluttering guests on their annual 2000+ miles migration to Mexico.  There will be smaller numbers sighted before and after this time period: however, the greater numbers will be more prevalent then. Last year I saw them into early November.

I have been hearing many reports of Monarchs fluttering in LBI residents’ gardens this summer. Also people are calling me about way stations they have created in their gardens, planting milkweed and flowers specifically geared toward Monarchs. Milkweed is the only plant Monarchs lay their eggs on, as it is the only food their offspring can eat.

Because LBI has mostly hard landscaping the food sources for the butterflies and their offspring are rapidly diminishing.  Diminished food sources and pesticides are the causes of the declining population.

I offer free seeds at my presentations to everyone who wishes to start their own mini Waystations. All you need is a large potting container and seeds.

From June 22 until today I have had Monarchs laying eggs and flying around my habitat every day, all day. You can do this too. I have released over 400.  Others have started their own Way Stations. One LBI resident reporting she has raised 50 so far this year.

I offer free seeds at my presentations on LBI to enable those interested in saving Monarchs to create their own habitats, their own Monarch Way Stations.
 For those interested I will be available during the kite festival at Fire Fly in Surf City, Oct. 8^th, 10-12.

Below are the simple directions to create your own mini (non-invasive) container garden. Plant seeds as they have a longer growing period, and supplement with established plants. Ask your nursery if the plants have been treated with pesticides, even organic pesticides kill caterpillars and bees.

Butterfly Weed and Bright Light Cosmos seed planting instructions (seed packets I have been sharing with LBI residents:
Sow seeds in a sunny location late fall in a large plastic pot or container or directly into the ground. Cover 1/4 inch. In the spring they should poke up and be the beginnings of your own Monarch Way station.

Judith Jobson (Johnson)

North Beach Haven N.J.

Milkweed Planting and Care & Where to Find Milkweed

Milkweed Planting and Care & Where to Find Milkweed

By Mona Miller on Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 8:34pm

Planting:

• Seeds and plants should be planted in full sun to partial shade (3-4 hours of sun).
• Seeds collected in the fall can be planted right away.  Seeds of perennials saved over the winter will need a cold treatment unless they have been kept in cold storage (garage or outside building) or collected from pods that wintered over outdoors.  Leave them in the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks before planting them (see the Butterfly Encounters link for detailed instructions.)  
• How to Video on Collecting and Harvesting Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, Seeds (without most of the fluff):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhjkC1Mbzlg  (This technique can be used for many milkweed species where the pods have not split/popped open.)
• Plant them in ordinary garden soil.
• Seeds should not be planted more than 1 inch deep.  Press down soil after planting.
• Milkweed seeds of many native species can also be winter sowed. Here are the directions for winter sowing: http://tinyurl.com/ouexpn6
• Water the first year.
• Do not use any pesticides. 

Aphids:

     Oleander Aphids are the primary pest of milkweeds.  Their numbers usually increase in the fall.  The major problem with the aphids is the honeydew that is produced. They do not harm Monarch caterpillars. But, the honeydew can result in a sooty mold fungal disease that will weaken and may kill the plant.  The information and websites in the links section will help you learn more about combating aphids.

• Do not over fertilize because the nitrogen attracts aphids.
• Do not over water.
• Do not use pesticides because they will kill Monarch caterpillars.
• Do squish aphids with your hands or use clear tape.  The glue on the tape takes off the aphids.
• Do use burst of water from a hose to knock off the aphids.
• If the aphids are heavy, the top of the plant may need to be cut back. 
• As a last resort, you can make a soap and water spray and spray your plants.  But, make sure there are no Monarch eggs or caterpillars on the plants before you spray. Here are directions and the recipe for an inexpensive soap spray: http://tinyurl.com/qgq95eq

Managing Established Plants

• Mature milkweed plants of the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) can be cut back in early summer to force them to regrow to provide tender leaves in early fall.  Cut them back in mid to late June, but this depends on your growing season.  
• I usually wait for them to flower before I cut them back because they produce nectar for many pollinators.
• They can be cut back to a height of 2' or back to the ground.  Make a straight not diagonal cut just above a leaf node (where the leaves are attached to the stem).  
• If you want to collect seeds, do not cut all of your plants back.  Most plants that are cut back will not have time to produce seeds by the fall.  
• Check leaves of milkweed cuttings for any eggs or caterpillars.  
• Milkweed plant cuttings, can be washed and used to feed caterpillars. Cut milkweed can be placed in the refrigerator for several days to keep it fresh. Wash it, wrap it in paper towel and place it into plastic bags.  It is best to keep it in the vegetable bin.  

Links for reference on planting and caring for milkweed:

http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/guide/index.htm
  Monarch Watch Milkweed Photo Guide

http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/prop.htm
   Monarch Watch, Propagation (Growing Milkweed)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPrXuU30BROmIJZN22AbTQ (videos are at the bottom of the page)
   Butterfly Encounters (Instructions include video demonstration for starting seeds.)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150356576124949.1073741829.57837984948&type=3
  (Facebook)  Milkweed Propagation (plants, seeds, rhizomes), plus information on diseases.

http://www.mymonarchguide.com/2007/08/milkweed-leaf-problems.html
  My Monarch Guide, Milkweed Leaf Problems

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Pests.asp?genus=Asclepias&care=Asclepias
  Problems Associated with Asclepias (Milkweed)

http://washingtonareabutterflies.wordpress.com/gardening-for-butterflies/
   Washington Area Butterfly Club, Gardening for Butterflies

http://npsot.org/wp/story/2014/5885/
  How to collect milkweed seeds (Texas)
  
http://www.ourhabitatgarden.org/creatures/milkweed-growing.html
  Growing Milkweeds for Monarchs (how to collect seeds, propagate them, and how to grow from rhizomes and how to divide mature plants).

http://www.xerces.org/milkweeds-a-conservation-practitioners-guide/