Monarch Butterfly | Gardens For Goldens

To Rule A Garden…Or More

August 6, 2017 by Ogee

“Anybody who wants to rule the world should try to rule a garden first.” ~ Author Unknown I found this unattributed quote and it struck me as true. Nothing humbles like a garden – a tiny microcosm of the world where distinct forces work best in harmony, but are sometimes pushed into doing battle for survival and the chance to ensure future generations. I’m not really sure that anyone ever rules the garden; to assume so would tempt Mother Nature’s […]

Categories: Gardening, Humanity, Nature Photography, Thought • Tags: Anna's Hummingbird, Dahlia, Dragonfly, Gardener Traits, gardening, Monarch Butterfly, Praying Mantis, Swallowtail Butterfly, Tiny Frogs

Hope for the Monarchs

November 17, 2015 by Ogee

From threatened to signs of rebounding. Three to four times the number of monarch butterflies are expected to reach their wintering grounds in central Mexico this year. The population has been in decline, as pesticides have destroyed the milkweed that they feed on, and illegal logging has reduced their pine forest canopy blanket where they over-winter. Through education, people are reintroducing milkweed, both by planting and designating pesticide-free areas. In Mexico, illegal logging is being shut down. And the monarchs […]

Categories: Nature • Tags: Monarch Butterfly, Monarch migration, Nature, Photography

Happiness alights

August 16, 2015 by Ogee

The garden is aflutter with butterflies. The Monarchs…the White Cabbage…and Fiery Skipper… and the Gulf fritillary or passion butterfly. Usually these Gulf Frits can be found gorging on the Lantana and verbena… but this weekend, it’s all about the passion-flower. This is where they will lay their eggs – because their larva feeds exclusively on the passion-flower vine that covers our arbor. Before long, there will be spiny caterpillars covering the arbor…the beginning of the transformation from larva to winged […]

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: Butterfiles, dog rescue, Gulf Fritillary Butterfly, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Monarch Butterfly, Pets, Transformation

Going Home Parade

May 24, 2015 by Ogee

It’s beginning to look a lot like summer, with the return of the Asiatic lilies, daylilies… Monarch butterflies, and snakes. There is just one thing missing: my dahlias! When I last saw them, they were healthy, six-inch tall plants shooting rapidly skyward. Upon my return this weekend, they were barely stubs. Maria says they fell prey to snails. I’m not so sure that bunnies weren’t involved. There certainly are enough of both in the garden. Do you think we can […]

Categories: Gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: Asiatic Lily, Daylily, Going Home Rescue Pictures, Golden Retriever Garden, golden retriever rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden Sacramento, Monarch Butterfly

Why Heaven Made Dogs

November 16, 2014 by Ogee

“If Heaven made him — earth can find some use for him.” ~ Chinese Proverb As our garden matures, it has found purpose beyond beauty. Our compost now makes soil. Our passion vine feeds caterpillars – that turn into beautiful Gulf Fritillary butterflies. Nature has a way of creating purposeful pairs…Monarchs and their symbiotic relationship with Butterfly Weed; Birds and their perches; Lizards and turtles? Apparently in our garden – if no where else. Spring needs Fall; Bees need flowers; […]

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: dog rescue, Dogs, Garden Photography, Gulf Fritillary Butterfly, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Monarch Butterfly, Nature Photography

Doing our Part

July 13, 2014 by Ogee

Our garden not only provides a welcome place for rescued dogs – it supports them through donations for commemorative bricks in our Memorial Garden Path and plaques on our Garden Wall. This is Sally. This young, puppy-faced dog has already had a lifetime of breeding. Those days are over. Pampering and TLC are our orders for her moving forward. But pups are not the only creatures helped by our garden. Monarch butterflies have a symbiotic relationship with Milkweed – their […]

Categories: Gardening • Tags: Bee Colony Collapse, Garden, Garden Photography, Gulf Fritillary Butterfly, Honey Bees, Milkweed, Monarch Butterfly, Nature

Metamorphosis

May 4, 2014 by Ogee

“The butterfly is a flying flower, The flower a tethered butterfly.” ~ Ponce Denis Écouchard Lebrun Butterflies appear like flying petals flitting through the air. So beautiful – we forget the transformation required to achieve that beauty. From cocoon to caterpillar – their beginnings are far more humble. “There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.” ~ Richard Buckminster Fuller We chuckle when people meet their perfect pup at Homeward Bound and think […]

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: Butterfly, dog rescue, Dogs, Gardens for Goldens, Golden Retriever, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Hummingbird Garden, Monarch Butterfly, Rose Garden

Wordless Wednesday: Unfolding

September 18, 2013 by Ogee

Categories: Gardening • Tags: Butterfly, Dahlia, Flower Photography, Monarch Butterfly, Unfolding Dahlia

Garden Ballet

August 4, 2013 by Ogee

Monarch Butterflies are doing dances all through the butterfly bed in the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden. We have created a haven for them with Butterfly Bush, Milkweed, Lantana, Verbena and a host of others. As long as they stay still, I can pretty much capture them. In flight – not so much. I was able to capture the dance of this rare specimen, however. Quite the ballet – don’t you think? Take a bow, Dee Dee! Such a cutie.

Categories: Gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: Butterfly Garden, dog rescue, Dogs, Happy Dog, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, Lantana, Milkweed, Monarch Butterfly, verbena