PREDATORS in the Butterfly Garden❓😱

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day Good GROWer 😍

today I’d like to share a quick tip about how to avoid creating accidental death traps in your garden.

But first, I’d like to say that predation in your butterfly garden is normal part of nature, and needed to create a healthy ecosystem that includes both monarchs and their predators.

This post isn’t about harming or killing predators, but rather pointing out some simple solutions to increase monarch survival and not accidentally creating death traps in your garden. Today’s spotlight predator…

🐸 Frogs 🐸 

Two seasons ago an injured giant swallowtail entered our garden…its wings had been damaged, so it was not able to fly. I placed it on nectar flowers twice, but it flew down to the ground both times…near our water feature. Then, suddenly, it was gone 🫥

A short time later, I snapped a photo of our resident frog 📸 🐸

Upon editing the photo, I noticed some damning evidence coming out of the frog’s mouth…a wing tip! Click the link below to see the photo:

Mr. Frog Caught Red-handed ⬅️

This past summer, we were sitting on our deck watching another giant swallowtail butterfly fluttering around our potted lantana plant. My friends gasped in amazement at what they saw next…another large leopard frog jumped up and snatched the butterfly in mid air. 🐸🦋😱

Our garden is a haven for all creatures great and small, but it was apparent our actions had created an ongoing issue…a death trap for butterfly visitors.

But, the solution was a simple one, and we look forward to hosting BOTH frogs and butterflies in 2025. Read more about:

A Simple and SAFE Frog Solution ⬅️😊

Have a LOVEly weekend 💝

Tony your Butterfly Guide