Monarchs

A few years ago we began letting the "out of play" areas do their own thing.  We stopped trying to keep the weeds away and only mow them once or twice a year.  The goal was to attract more wildlife.  In particular, we hoped the milkweed would flourish and attract Monarch butterflies.  We've been scouting for signs of activity all summer and finally found some today on hole 5.  The caterpillars are feeding now and will soon go through metamorphosis.  I think this is the third of four generations we see now.  If so, when the butterflies emerge they will lay eggs on milkweed.  The eggs will hatch, caterpillars will feed for about two weeks, a chrysalis will form, and then the fourth generation butterfly will emerge.  The fourth generation will then fly to Mexico for the winter.  It's an amazing story that is well worth a little research for those that aren't familiar with it.  

Some of our "out of play" areas are more suitable to let go than others.  Milkweed exists in many places alongside much larger invasive weeds that, if left alone, become too big an issue for maintenance and/or play.  That said, we are aiming to promote milkweed wherever it will grow.