The monarch caterpillars in our garden haven’t been surviving over the past two years & I shared my disappointment with a friend in horticulture. It may have been due to neighbors pesticides, predators, or some other factor.

She suggested collecting caterpillars just after they hatch, and providing fresh milkweed leaves daily in a protected mesh enclosure.

This morning we awoke to this wondrous surprise!

@Sheril Congrats on your butterfly.

My family has had good luck with Monarchs in our backyard garden, although it took several years of letting milkweed and other native plants grow wild in our yard.

We also cordon off any plants where the caterpillars build their chrysalis, so they won't be accidentally disturbed.