Monarchs suffered a loss in Mexico this winter. Read below to learn more.

We're officially open for the season!

Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat 9-3, closed Sundays. The winter has been hard on the garden and exhibit so the area is pretty brown. We're planting annuals and replanting about 2/3 of the garden. In a month the gardens should look quite different.

New pages, new pages, new pages ... we've been using our off-season to build new pages on the educational website, Butterfly Fun Facts. In this issue we introduce you to several new pages on the site.

If you need Monarch eggs, caterpillars, chrysalides, or adults, there will be a slight delay in shipment. Due to the recent cold, most Florida farmers are behind in production. We will be ready to ship eggs in about three weeks.

• Palamedes (Laurel) Swallowtail
• Zebra Swallowtail
• Cassius Blue
• Checkered White

There little larvae aren't the cutest in the world, are they? But one of them can eat hundreds of aphids. In a milkweed patch, a hover fly population can lower the number of aphids.
There are several species of hover flies. Larvae of these flies can vary greatly from species to species.
Hover flies lay eggs on the plant near a food source; live aphids. While photographing dozens of hover fly larvae over a months time, I never saw one with a Monarch larvae although there were quite a few Monarch larvae on the plants.
A special thanks to Ba Rea for identifying these critters. Ba is one of the authors of Milkweed, Monarchs, and More (the new edition will be out soon) for adults as well as the delightful children's book Monarch, Come Play With Me.

It's time to vote! Which caption do you prefer?

The winner will receive a $20 gift card from Shady Oak Butterfly Farm.

We invite you to join us on our April butterfly hunt. We have been holding this walk every Easter or the Sunday after Easter for years. This is not a business venture - it's simply fun! We expect to find a few Zebra Swallowtail eggs and larvae. Because of the harshness of our winter, there are fewer butterflies in the area this time of year compared to the past. We hope to locate some Red Admiral larvae, American Lady larvae, and perhaps a couple other species. As long as you have host plants, you're welcome to take home the eggs and larvae you find during the hunt.

We will meet at the farm at 2PM April 11. PLEASE contact us at edith@buyabutterfly.com if you wish to join us. Children are welcome on this hunt. Please wear jeans or long pants, shoes (not sandals), and bring insect repellant. We will be walking through the woods part of the time.

The farm will be closed April 11. If you need plants, please write to the gals in the office and they'll have everything done so you can simply pick them up at the farm. No one will be in the office to conduct business on April 11.

The above photo was taken during the 2009 Easter Butterfly Egg Hunt.

This is an often asked question. The answer is simply, "It depends". Although not a satisfying answer, it's the only honest answer.

Which milkweed? How thick are the leaves? How large are the leaves? There are several questions that change the answer from 'a few' to 'the entire plant full'.

It's time to think of caterpillar food. Plants are now available for pickup or shipment.

• Florence Fennel
• Bronze Fennel
• Red Tropical Milkweed
• Yellow Tropical Milkweed
• Orange/Yellow Tropical Milkweed
• Curly Parsley
• Italian Parsley
• Frog Fruit
• Water Hyssop
• Wild Lime - 6" only
• Carolina Willow
• Passionvines (most are available)
• English/Ribgrass Plantain
• Calico Vine

Not all plants on the site are available at this time. Many are grumpy, holding out for warmer weather before they stick their heads up too far.

The harsh winter and heavy rains with mudslides in Mexico has lessened the Monarch population returning to the eastern US. You can help Monarch butterflies by planting milkweed. If you'd like free Tropical Milkweed seed, please send a self- addressed stamped envelope to: Free Milkweed Seed, 12876 SW County Rd 231, Brooker, FL 32622.

If you want to plant milkweed plants, please remember that we ship pesticide-free tropical milkweed plants to all 48 contiguous states. At this time we do not have Giant Milkweed in stock. We hope to have them ready to ship within two months.

We cannot ship Monarchs in any stage across the continental divide to the western half of the US. The USDA prohibits transportation of Monarchs across the divide.

If you enjoy this newsletter, please share it with your friends. Every 100th new subscriber (and the person who recommended Butterflies!) will receive a gift from Shady Oak. We do not subscribe any person unless they directly ask us to do so. Subscribers have subscribed to this newsletter from one of our websites or through another sign-up location.

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Photo right: the Smith clan (missing four due to work and illness).

Choose your host plant by butterfly!

Until next time, Edith, Stephen, Ester, Michelle, Christina, Rachel, Charlotte, and the gang