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This summer, I became a little obsessed with monarchs

Nearly every day, I found myself outside searching milkweed leaves for tiny monarch eggs and caterpillars. I checked leaves, gathered fresh milkweed, cleaned enclosures, worried over the little ones, celebrated every chrysalis—and waited anxiously for each beautiful butterfly to emerge.

But really, this summer started three years ago.

For the past five years, I’ve been working to turn our gardens into a true haven for monarchs and other pollinators. I planted different varieties of milkweed and lots of pollinator-friendly flowers, added a water source, and kept building and improving the habitat. Eventually, all that work paid off when my garden officially became a registered Monarch Waystation.

And this year, the monarchs really found me.

Nearly every day, I found myself outside searching milkweed leaves for tiny monarch eggs and caterpillars. I checked leaves, gathered fresh milkweed, cleaned enclosures, and cleaned up more caterpillar poop than I ever imagined possible. Seriously, how can something that tiny poop that much? 😂 I worried over the little ones, celebrated every chrysalis, and waited anxiously for each beautiful butterfly to emerge.

As of today, I have released 22 beautiful monarch butterflies. 🧡🖤

And the season isn’t over yet.

I currently have 7 caterpillars still munching away and another 8 monarchs in chrysalis. Every single release still feels special. Watching one open its wings for the first time and eventually fly away never gets old.

And Then Came the Swallowtails

Monarchs weren’t the only surprise in my garden this summer.

One day I discovered five black swallowtail caterpillars on my dill! Of course, they quickly became part of the family too.

So far, I’ve released three beautiful black swallowtails, with two more still in chrysalis. Because of the time of year, those last two may stay tucked inside their chrysalises all winter and emerge next spring—which seems pretty incredible when you think about it.

Already Dreaming About Next Year

I was definitely more invested in raising butterflies this year than I have ever been, and apparently Jim has accepted that this is just part of our lives now. 😂

He is going to build me a more permanent butterfly enclosure for next year, complete with a roof and a divider. One side will serve as a little nursery for the babies, while the other will give the larger caterpillars and chrysalises their own space.

I already can’t wait.

But more than the numbers or the enclosures, what I’ll remember about this summer is how grateful I felt to be part of something so beautiful.

Monarchs face so many challenges along their journey. I know my little garden can’t solve all of them. But it can provide milkweed. It can provide nectar, water, and a safe place to grow. And I can help a few more monarchs make it out into the world.

I feel incredibly blessed to have witnessed every tiny egg, every very hungry caterpillar, every miraculous chrysalis, and every first flight.

Sometimes helping nature doesn’t require doing something enormous.

Sometimes it starts with planting a seed. 🧡🖤🦋