BUTTERFLY WEED AND MONARCH CATERPILLARS

Yesterday, we found two monarch caterpillars on the butterfly weed plant.

The butterfly weed was a new addition to the garden this spring, and it is one of the few plants on which a monarch butterfly will lay its eggs.

For more information on Monarch Butterflies and their life cycle go to:

http://www.gardenswithwings.com/butterfly/Monarch/index.html

Our Next Project!

The present butterfly garden is doing great. This was our first step in creating an outdoor classroom environment. We are going to expand the outdoor classroom to the fenced in area behind the preschool. In that area, we want to build raised beds for various gardens such as: a sensory garden, an herb garden, a vegetable garden, a butterfly garden, and a worm bed. Since this area is already fenced in, the children will be able to be more involved in these projects.

These are some of the items that we are in need of :

- one or two large rubbermaid type containers to hold tools and other items

- bags of fertilizer and black cow
- plants –annuals like zinnias and cosmos
- plants- perennials and herbs
- any flowering plants from your yard that can be divided
- large stepping stones (the concrete ones you can find at Walmart)
- butterfly house
- bluebird house
- watering can
- large terra cotta saucer

- bench

- timbers for raised beds

-volunteers who have tools needed to build the beds.

- water hose that is durable and very long or two hoses that can be connected. (the existing water hose is not long enough and it is full of kinks)

- sprayer for hose

-soaker hose

Portrait Fundraiser

We had a good turnout at the fundraiser today! Thank you to Erin and her parents and to all who took advantage of this opportunity!!