I have let Mulberry trees grow wild in three areas on the farm. Yesterday evening – on my way to the vegetable garden suddenly a cloud of startled monarch butterflies flew out of the trees. At that moment I knew why I loved those trees. 
I dropped my vegetables and grabbed for the phone but by then most of the bright and beautiful butterflies had wooshed on their fairy wings back into the stand of trees.
I counted at least twenty separate butterflies hanging in the branches of the mulberries like turning leaves. Autumnal coloured wings turning, opening and closing like nebulous heart beats made from sunset skies. It was magical.
This is the first time I have ever seen so many in the garden or so many close together. I was enchanted. 
It was like a divine pat on the back. Look the cosmos was saying – all your milkweeds have done the trick. The new butterflies are gathering together to join the migration. You and your wilderness gardens have made a difference. 
And in the mulberry trees no less.
Here is how to grow a mulberry tree. Put pots of soil under a big old mulberry tree. By late summer mulberry trees will be growing in your pots.
I wonder if rain at the wrong time affects the butterflies takeoff. I will let you know when they leave.
They might have gone already.
Boiled Eggs and Pig Cakes waiting for first farm breakfast.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
44 responses to “MONARCHS LOVE MULBERRY”
I dont think we have any Mulberry trees which is a shame as l would grow some just to encourage butterflies. We have mauve daisy plants in the garden that spread further each year and the bees love them…so l suppose l am doing my bit..
Yes! Bee friendly plants are critical!!
Congrats on the Monarchs in the Mulberries. You know what else likes Mulberries…groundhogs.
Groundhogs – merciful heaven.
They’re very tasty roasted, C: )
What a special reward. We used to feed our silkworms on Mullberry leaves when we were kids. Laura
There you go!!
I do not know if we have any mulberries here in Maine. Probably not growing wild, might be the wrong zone. We have lots of milkweed around here, good for the butterflies, bad for the sheep. I would have loved to have seen those monarchs!
They are still there this morning – just a small flock but definitely a group of them
Wheeeee 😀
So, you’re seeing more Monarchs this year as well Celi? Here as well!! It is so very heartening after their ongoing downturn over the past (what 10?) years or so!: ) They’re gathering here as well… Guess I’ll need to go have a closer look at the Mulberry trees: )
I don’t think I’ve seen a Monarch since we moved to Montana. We used to see them all the time in Texas. Hmmmmm. Maybe I just haven’t been watching. Not sure. We’ve already had a frost so maybe their migration pattern is further east of here. I miss them……
I don’t think they have deliberately chosen the mulberry to rest – more likely it is shady and close to the shallow water I put out for the garden pollinators
Oh. I just assumed they were eating the mulberry leaves.
I know there are mulberries here. The evidence is all over the boats I work on when the berries ripen and the birds find them. A couple of years ago, the monarchs gathered on trees and shrubs in a town south of here. I heard about it after the fact, so missed seeing it — lucky you!
I cover my good car for just that reason- think PEACOCKS eating them!
Poetry in motion – that is what a flutter by is…. (and we call them flutter by’s in our home….) Our area in Texas is part of the migration path and I love coming upon a tree filled with them. Working right on the bank of the Trinity river allows us to see them in the area. WHAT a zucchini!!!! It looks like a watermelon!
We have not had a tree full of them since the seventies so this is an interesting advance.
That’s very interesting. In my work to restore the historic Illinois prairie, I have killed many a mulberry tree. Perhaps I will have to reconsider in some areas. The tree does tend to be invasive.
Just curious, how do you think the Monarchs are benefiting from the mulberry.
Thank you for your blogs each day!
Remic
Mulberries are natives which is why I don’t mind them invading specific areas of the farm. But I think as tpmthe butterflies it would be shelter near water maybe? I am not sure they have chosen the mulberry specifically ? I not sure . It is a good sized cool stand of trees
How beautiful and what lucky pigs!
Those pigs!!!
There is a fabulous book by Barbara Kingsolver about monarchs and climate change. It is a great read. You would no doubt be enchanted with the book Celi!
I read her once – she is a good writer
How beautiful! You still got good photos of Monarch in Trees!
I wish I could have captured the whole flick but they were hidden in there
The monarchs and other butterflies love our zinnias. It is so wonderful to see all of them alighting on the colorful blooms–a feast for the eyes! And all the flowers (including the ones on the veggie plants) bring in the bees and other bugs. We even have dragonflies. Such a beautiful microcosm!
Yes! I love dragonflies – I think the water we add to the vegetable gardens helps attract them too
Monarchs! ahhhh what a treat for the eyes and heart! and then there is the gourmet treat for the pigs!
I love mulberries but am so grateful we don’t have any in the back yard. If you think a couple of peacocks make a mess, try flying foxes, which travel in packs… Beautiful monarchs. Butterflies have such short, vivid, mysterious lives – what is it that suddenly tells them it’s time to descend on certain trees en masse, or hurl themselves at some unfeasibly distant goal?