The monarchs are back.  They arrived in northern Minnesota at the end of May.  As they have for the past 20+ years they found Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Duluth.  Now they are laying eggs on the milkweed plants that are part of a certified  (monarchwatch.org) Monarch Waystation.  In 4-5 days, the caterpillar will eat its eggshell and then begin eating milkweed and only milkweed for the next 2 weeks.  The caterpillar will shed its skin 5 times while growing about 3000 times larger. If you grew that fast when you were born, you would weigh about 24000 pounds (the size of a school bus).  Then the caterpillar will shed its skin one last time and will become a green chrysalis.  After another two weeks it will have a dramatic color change and hatch (eclose) into the beautiful monarch butterfly which is the state insect in Minnesota. The color change means that the monarch will hatch (eclose) that day.

If you have a pollinator garden containing milkweed, you are helping the monarchs.  Milkweed is the only plant upon which a female will lay an egg.  Milkweed is also the only food that the caterpillar will eat.  So, if you have milkweed, you are being monarch friendly, and there is a high probability that monarchs will visit you.

Gloria Dei has had a tradition for many years of giving chrysalides to anyone who wants one.  The caterpillars are raised to the pupal (chrysalis) stage and then brought to church on Sunday to be given out during coffee hour.