Overwintering Swallowtail...CHRYSALIDES❓🤔

October 26, 2024

Hello Good GROWer, I hope you are enjoying the final weekend of October 🎃

It’s still unseasonably warm in Minnesota and there’s still some nectar nourishment for late pollinators in the garden from our Bidens, Lantana, Tropical Milkweed, and Mexican Sunflowers.

Perennially speaking, some seasonally-confused roses are blooming, along with some tall phlox that had been previously cut back. That being said, I’m only seeing bees buzzing around the garden 🐝…probably 2-3 weeks since the last monarch migrated through?

But even though it’s still warm, it’s not too early to start thinking about overwintering swallowtails…

This past season was a bust for swallowtails in our Minnesota garden. Typically, we have good numbers of both giant swallowtails and tiger swallowtails, but they were few and far between in 2024…and the last giant swallowtail fluttering through in September was snatched in midair by our resident leopard frog 🐸…which is a good reason for not putting future butterfly plants next to the water feature 😕

Overwinter Guests?

While monarchs have fluttered south for the season, some of the swallowtails have been left behind. In fact, they'll stay in cold and ❄️ over winter, but miraculously...survive until spring! 🤯

Swallowtails overwinter snuggled inside their chrysalides. If you are raising late-season swallowtails or find a chrysalis outside, don't bring it in to warm up, or you may have a butterfly guest for the holidays, that likely won't survive until spring. 🦋 ☠️ 😭

Here's info on:

30% and MORE OFF Plants: Season End Clearance! 🌿😍

The good people at Joyful Butterfly still have some prime perennial plants on sale at a jaw-dropping 30% to 40% OFF 😱 (while supplies last) including several MILKWEED varieties and purple coneflowers.

Find your plants here:

40% OFF Host and Nectar Plants <<<<< 🧐 (while supplies last)

Until Next Time,

Blue Skies and Pumpkin Spice Butterflies 🎃 🦋

Tony your Butterfly Guide