All of the photographs are copyrighted by Carol Labuzzetta, whether watermarked or not. No permission is granted for duplication of any kind without express permission. Thanks for your interest!
butterflies
Slice of Life: Mid-Summer Monarch Report
My involvement in monarch conservation has spanned for almost two decades! Some, in our local community, might even refer to me as the butterfly lady! Teaching first my garden club students (over 500 hundred during the lifetime of the club) and then, neighbors, community members from other organizations such as Lion’s Club, church groups, and…
Pollinator Week: Hoary Plants
Today, my son and I walked the trails at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge on Brice Prairie. It is a designated site of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. It’s pollinator week and I’m participating in Miles for Monarchs, through Monarch Joint Venture, trying to get in 25 miles of walking…
The Plant Game, Part II: Answers to 5/28
Late yesterday, I posed several questions about a plant that is special to me. Today, the answers will be provided! The first question was: Do you know the common name for this plant? The answer is this plant Wild Blue Lupine. The scientific name is Lupinus perennis. This photo shows an example of a mature…
Monarchs in Space?! Ten Years Ago Today!
Ten years ago I had my Evergreen Garden Club students participate in a large Citizen Science Project. It was co-hosted by Monarch Watch and NASA (yes, that NASA). Monarch larvae were sent into space via the space shuttle to arrive at the International Space Station. At the same time, project participants, including those in my…
Plants and Pollinators
Over the last few weeks, during soccer games, trips to the office, walking in prairie grasses, as making the rounds in our yard I’ve noticed the number of pollinators I have visiting my plants. Last week, on my Autumn Joy Sedum, I noticed painted lady butterflies feeding on the blossoms. It was movement and stark…
Silent Sunday: The Magnificent Chrysalis
Hey, Gardener! Leave them bugs alone!
Pink Floyd Do you remember the Pink Floyd song that included the line: “Hey! Teachers! Leave Them Kids Alone!” Well, I do – since I am of an age when my friends were listening to Pink Floyd and other rock bands in the late seventies. This song and that famous line came to my mind…
Monarch Update, Mid-August
It’s been a little over two weeks since I made my last monarch update. We are just starting the time of year when the super generation is being born! This is the generation of Monarchs that will migrate to Mexico, overwinter, and start to make the return trip Northward next spring. Having been on vacation…
Quick Monarch Update #3
Today, I provide another monarch update for you. My current counts are as follows: Releases: 5 – 3 female, 1 male, 1 unknown sex Chrysalises: 2 Larva – 5th instar -1, 4th instar – 1, 2nd-3rd instar – 6 Eggs – 3 Deaths: 4 (all failed to pupate). This year I have decided to share…