On day 8 we said good-bye to Mexico and returned home to the United States.

          For the most part of our trip to Mexico we had temperatures in the 70's except for the day of rain when the temperature was only in the 50's.

          Monarch started arriving in
spectacular waterfalls, mineral pools, butterflies, birds and even bat caves. We even pampered ourselves with massages and facials.  The resort owner took us on a night hike where we saw glow worms.

          On the morning of day 7 we took books and supplies to a school in the village of Macheros. After visiting the school we mounted our horses and rode up the mountain to the Cerro Pelon butterfly colony.  The millions of butterflies were very active with the temperature in the 70's with plenty of sunshine.
         On the cold and rainy day 4 we visited the Monarch colony of Sierra Chincua where we saw millions of Monarchs just hanging on the trees.

          On days 5 and 6 we rested at the beautiful tropical Agua Blanca Canyon  Resort.  During our stay there we took in the local scenery of wonderful flora,
          We started early on day 2 and explored the colonial town of Morelia.  We visited the remains of an 18th century aqueduct, the iconic Tarascas fountain, the Cathedral, and a museum featuring local artists.

          After exploring Morelia we traveled to the 400 year old Hacienda La Cruz to spend the
          Recently I joined 17 other members from Monarchs Across Georgia to explore the culture and natural history of Mexico and to visit the wintering grounds of the Monarch butterfly.

          After arriving in Mexico late on our first day there we settles into the beautiful Hotel de la Soledad for an enjoyable supper.

 

 

 

Butterfly Enthusiasts
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Monarchs In Mexico:
Brenda's Winter Butterfly Trip








 














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Butterfly Count

In 2010, SEMBA Members have Raised and Released:

448

Butterflies to date back into the wild.

In 2009, SEMBA Members Raised and Released:

828

Butterflies back into the wild.

If you have Raised and Released Butterflies, We would like to know.  Submit your count today!

Email Count To:
djphantom69@yahoo.com
Recent Sightings

SEMBA Members have had the following recent butterfly sightings:

14. August 9th, 2010
Colleen Sturm saw a Yellow Swallowtail, a Monarch, and many Cabbage Whites at her house in Livonia, Michigan.

13.  August 5th, 2010
Maureen Redhage saw a White Admiral in her garden in Richmond, MI.

12.  July, 2010
Mike & Sandi McCown have seen Monarchs and Yellow Swallowtails in their backyard in Taylor, MI.

11.  May 29th, 2010
Brenda Dziedzic has seen Monarch Butterflies, Silver Spotted Skippers,  Pecks Skippers,  and Giant Swallowtail Butterflies in her backyard in Westland, MI.

10.  May 24th, 2010
Randy Zeilinger saw a Monarch Butterfly in his backyard.

9.  May 24th, 2010
Kendra Goetz saw a Monarch Butterfly in her backyard in Riga, MI.

8. May 6th, 2010
Brenda Dziedzic saw a Question Mark, two American Ladys, two Cabbage Whites, a Black Swallowtail,  and 2 Red Admirals in her backyard in Westland, MI.

7.  May 4th, 2010
Rachelle Melczek saw a Tiger Swallowtail and a Red Admiral in her yard in Westland, MI.

6. April, 2010


5. April 30, 2010
Brenda Dziedzic saw Cabbage Whites, a Morning Cloak, and Red Admirals in her backyard in Westland, MI.

4. April 28, 2010
Brenda Dziedzic saw a Common Checkered-Skipper laying eggs on Hollyhocks in her backyard in Westland, MI.

3.  April 12, 2010
Brenda Dziedzic
saw an American Lady laying eggs on Pearly Everlasting in her backyard in Westland, MI.


Have you seen Butterflies in your yard? We would like to know about it.  Submit your Sighting now!

Email sightings to:
djphantom69@yahoo.com
Next  Meeting:

September 15th, 2010

All meetings being at 7:00 pm. and take place at:

Nankin Mills
33175 Ann Arbor Trail
Westland, Michigan


(unless otherwise noted.)
Calendar of Upcoming Events

August

August 21, Open Garden, 11-4 p.m., Brenda Dziedzic's
1263 Springer St., Westland, MI 48186. Come see a Butterfly Garden in action.


29th, Taylor Butterfly Day, 12:00pm, Taylor Conservatory
The Taylor Conservatory Foundation is hosting a Butterfly Day at the Conservatory for the public on Sunday, August 29th, from 12-5 p.m.  This year, we’ve devoted an entire wing of the Conservatory to butterfly plantings.  We will net off a section of the wing and on Butterfly Day we will have live butterflies inside for guests to interact with.   We’ll also have butterfly crafts, educational activities and refreshments. 

September

15th, Meeting, 7:00 pm., Nankin Mills
"Garden Insects Movie"
A movie exploring the insects that life in your garden.

October

20th, Meeting, 7:00 pm., Nankin Mills
"Flight of the Monarch Butterfly" Documentary about the extraordinary adventure of pilot Vico Gutierrez, who in an ultra-light plane , follows the Monarchs' journey with the goal of increasing awareness about the challenges they face.
Contact Us
Feedback
SEMBA Wishlist

This is a list of some items that SEMBA could use at the meetings and for use at the Nankin Mills Garden:

* Coffee / Tea / Hot Chocolate
* Hot or Cold Cups
* Napkins / Paper Towels
* Plant Stakes
* Plant Ties
* Peony Cages
* Plant Tags
* Mason Jar Lids
* Newspaper

Wanted:  Pictures
    We are currently working on re-doing the Photos section on the website. We are looking for pictures in the following categories:

* Member Gardens
* Events and Activities
* Nankin Mills Garden


    You can submit up to 20 pictures of your garden along with a description of your yard.  Pictures from Events and Activities should include the date and location of the pictures. Pictures of the Nankin Mills Garden should include the date which they were taken.

Submit your pictures HERE.
night.  Hacienda La Cruz is the headquarters for La Cruz Habitat Protection Project, Inc., an American non-profit organization dedicated to forest restoration and promoting sustainable forest management in Central Mexico.  We received a tour by Jose Luis Alvarez as he explained the process of growing the Oyamel Fir trees, which the Monarchs overwinter in.  Alvarez gives the Oyamel trees to the local people.

         Day 3 brought us to the colonial town of Pátzcuaro, a cultural and artisan center of the stat of Michoacán, where we visited several shops filled with hand-crafted items.  We ended the day with a visit to Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud, home to Our Lady of Good Health who is said to perform miracles.
the 12 colonies around November 1st, and will begin moving north around the end on March.  They travel to this volcanic mountain range of Mexico because the weather conditions provide the right habitat for them to sustain in.

          This year was the lowest population of Monarchs the region has seen over the past 16 years.  In order to help the population to grow we need to plant as much milkweed as possible so tht when the Monarchs arrive they have plenty of places to lay their eggs.

          If you ever get the chance to visit the Monarch Colonies of Mexico, I highly recommend it.  It is a sight and a trip that you will never forget.