Have you noticed fewer butterflies and bees in your garden lately? The decline in pollinators is becoming more apparent as urban sprawl and habitat loss continue to threaten their survival. These essential creatures, once abundant and vital to pollinating crops and gardens, are now struggling to find the host plants they depend on. In response, some large-scale farms are even turning to artificial pollination methods to sustain their crops. If we don’t take action, future generations may never experience the simple joy of watching butterflies flutter through their backyards. We must do better. Monarch butterflies, in particular, are at risk, and one of the simplest ways to support them is by planting milkweed—the only plant their caterpillars can eat. If you’re concerned about invasive species, don’t worry—there are many stunning ornamental varieties of milkweed that are non-invasive and perfect for home gardens. By planting just a few milkweed plants, you can make a difference. Let’s work together to protect these beautiful pollinators before they disappear from our world.
It’s the time of year for Eastern Monarchs to migrate to Mexico! Want to help them on their journey? Plant milkweed in your garden for their long trip South, along with plants high in nectar to help fuel them for the journey. Instead of the typical fall plants like mums, try a variety high in nectar and similar in look – Aster! It’s difficult for Monarchs to find anything blooming at this time, and plants like milkweed and aster are definitely what they need to get to their destination. If you happen to come across a tagged Monarch, write down the number and report it to our Monarch Watch organization. They keep track of the migration and tally numbers over in Mexico. Happy Fall and a smooth winter to you all!
“The migration of the Monarch butterflies is one of the wonders of the world – we must save it for future generations.” Dr. Jane Goodall
From the beginning of Whimsical Wings Farms, we made a heartfelt commitment to support the movement to save the Monarch butterfly. For years, their population has hovered just above endangered status—a sobering reminder of how fragile their future is. To be part of the solution, we knew we had to help restore their habitat, a critical piece in sustaining their life cycle.
Milkweed, the Monarch’s sole host plant, is essential to their survival. Increasing its presence in the world is not just beneficial—it’s necessary. But habitat restoration alone isn’t enough. Education plays a vital role. Across the globe, efforts are underway to raise awareness about this incredible species. Monarchs are the only butterflies that migrate and their life cycle is full of wonder and transformation. It doesn’t take much to fall in love with them.
We found ourselves dreaming: what if everyone became a Monarch enthusiast? What if each person planted just one milkweed—whether in a garden or a simple pot on the deck? What if we could spark a movement, inspiring others to act for the Monarch? Our ultimate goal is to ensure future generations can marvel at their beauty, not mourn their absence.
That’s why we created our Life Cycle Kit—a hands-on way to witness the magic of metamorphosis. With carefully selected contents, it provides everything needed to raise and release a Monarch butterfly, making it simple and rewarding for people of all ages to take part.
Our hope is to help create a world where the Monarch’s survival is no longer in question. A world where we don’t have to talk about their decline, because their beauty is thriving in our gardens, our skies, and our stories—shared with our children and grandchildren.
Let’s be part of that world. Together.
We’re thrilled to share that Whimsical Wings Farms was featured in Country Living magazine! Our Butterfly Life Cycle Kit was highlighted as one of eight easy, at-home butterfly-raising kits—and we were honored to be the top-rated option for Monarch butterflies, as well as the best pick for “plant included” kits.
As a small farm in our early years, this national recognition is a major milestone. Being featured alongside some of the biggest names in educational science supplies is both humbling and exciting. It reminds us that we’re making an impact—and that there’s still so much more to share.
One important takeaway from this experience is the continued need to educate people on the differences between Monarchs and Painted Lady butterflies. Though often confused, their life cycles are remarkably different. Monarchs, with their awe-inspiring migration and transformation, offer a uniquely captivating journey. As they remain dangerously close to the endangered species list, it’s up to all of us to support their survival.
That support starts with milkweed—the Monarch’s only host plant. Whether planted in a backyard garden or a small pot on your deck, milkweed is essential to the Monarch’s life cycle. Our mission is simple: to see every home, school, park, and storefront proudly host this life-sustaining plant.
When purchasing milkweed, check your local garden centers for native, pesticide-free options. With many beautiful varieties available, it’s easy to incorporate into your existing landscape. The only type we recommend avoiding is Common Milkweed, which can be invasive and difficult to manage.
If you’re new to Monarchs or need guidance on selecting the right plants, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always happy to answer questions, offer suggestions, and share our love for these incredible butterflies.
Let’s work together to ensure a future filled with Monarchs—for our children, our communities, and the generations to come.
A decades-old trend in the classroom is to order a Painted Lady butterfly kit to teach students about the life cycle of the butterfly. We want teachers to re-think this lesson. Why not choose a Monarch Butterfly Kit instead?
One reason may be that before the last few years, Monarch life cycle kits were not available for purchase. Now that educational supply companies and small farms across the US are popping up with options for shipping the kits, the game has changed. You can now receive a kit with Monarch eggs or larvae, and a full-grown Milkweed plant along with instructions and other items to successfully raise Monarchs.
Why change something that is working, you say. We’ve visited several US-wide blogs and pages over the past few months, and have found that the painted lady kit is not as successful as one might think. Reports of getting over a dozen larvae with only two making it to emergence is common-place. The ladies come with artificial diet, a sand-colored mixture in a small plastic container. The larvae simply eat this mixture, then form their chrysalis’ inside. They don’t hang themselves, just lay on the bottom or in a messy web they weave until they hatch. Painted ladies are beautiful, but small, muted in color, and their life cycle is just not interesting.
Interesting is watching Monarch caterpillars, bright yellow and black striped creatures, munching on a live Milkweed plant. They eat a tremendous amount – 9,000 times their body weight during the larval stage! They change their skin (called the molt) five times to accommodate the growth.
To see the milkweed plant skinned to the stems after housing these voracious eaters is pure entertainment. Then they go into a “j” shape and turn into a vivid jade colored chrysalis, as beautiful as a piece of jewelry. It even has a regal golden band around it. The emergence can be seen, as the chrysalis is adhered to the top of the netted enclosure. No opening a cup lid to see the progress.
Besides their interesting life cycle, other lessons can dovetail with the life cycle curriculum. Teaching the students about milkweed and why we need it in everyone’s garden or on everyone’s porch. You see, the Monarch has hovered just above being labeled an endangered species for years. One of the main causes of this is habitat (milkweed) depletion. A Monarch is also the only migrating butterfly. The ones born in the Fall migrate to Mexico (east coast stock) or California (west coast stock). Tagging them to see if they made it is a fun activity to do with the class. Toxins are another topic that comes along with the Monarch. They eat the toxic milkweed plant and make themselves “unpalatable” to predators. Ants, wasps, praying mantis, birds and lizards recognize toxic prey by their vivid coloring. This makes the Monarch a little safer than other species with less coloring and non-toxic host plants.
Finally, the lessons learned from this butterfly will go with the students, making them more likely to become Monarch enthusiasts and hopefully having some of the host plant at home. That’s our goal. For every household to have these very important plants for generations of Monarchs.