At the Edgerton (WI) Hospital and Health Services healing garden (3 acres), we just installed a monarch hatching station! This robust structure is intended to provide a safe space for monarch eggs and caterpillars to develop, eat, grow and ultimately go through their metamorphosis. Lined with hardware cloth (bottom too) and secure, we’ve already had three monarchs ultimately “hatch out” and be released into the garden. Caterpillars found out in the garden are relocated to the interior of this structure and supplied fresh milkweed every day (provided in vases). We also include fresh cut, nectar plants for any adults that have hatched and haven’t been released out into the garden yet. Our visitors, patients and guests get an “up close” look at this entire process and in the future, will be involved with the release of the adults into the garden which is full of appropriate nectar plants. What are you doing in your garden to help monarchs and other insects?
