For the past couple of summers, Hannah and I have been raising Monarch butterflies. I’ve used little net houses and plastic totes to raise them. Inside, they’ve escaped, and I’ve found the caterpillars crawling up the walls. Outside, the wind has toppled them over.
Last summer, when Hannah and I were exploring Kingsbrae Gardens in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, we spotted this little house for raising Monarch butterflies. With a hopeful look, I shared the picture with Paul and asked if this could go on “the honey do” list.
He just finished building me this Monarch Nursery affectionately called the “bug barn.”
It sits on a pressure-treated platform in the garden next to where my milkweed plants will hopefully come up again this year.
Paul drilled holes in the underside of the legs and pounded in rebar. The rebar extends from the legs about nine inches into the ground to keep the house from toppling over in the wind.
It’ll likely be July before I have the chance to test out the Monarch nursery. I’m very excited!
You can see how Paul put this together here in his video, or read his post about it here.
We will be all here just waiting to watch and help you hatch the butterflies–great cage!!
luv, di
Hi – I am just starting a butterfly garden for my toddler girls. I love your Bug Barn! Curious – have you found birds and other predators lurking by/bothering the caterpillars? Any suggestions you might make to deter them, if so?
Thanks! I can’t wait to see some crawly friends of our own!
I’m sure the predators are there. Every time I see a caterpillar, I pluck it off and put it in the house to protect it. I’m not sure of a way to deter the birds – I enjoy them too! Good luck with your garden!