Things they are a changin'

Things are really starting to change (as in metamorphosis ) at the JH! The caterpillars are fattening up and many have already formed the chrysalis. See the amazing video below courtesy of Ms. Rapp. Make sure that you have the volume turned up to hear the commentary. Wow. Simply, wow!

https://drive.google.com/a/milfordschools.org/file/d/0B1NAt4aB_xKtc2k0dFV5QlhpTGs/view

Monday Funday

Today was a great day for the Monarchs! Several chrysalis' formed over the weekend and today a male emerged in Room 7 while a female emerged in the Library. So, Mrs. Vanderveen and I tagged and released while Mrs. Mendralski videoed. Thanks, ladies! And, to our beautiful Monarchs, buena suerte amigos...                                                  

 Check out our video: Release of the Wild Cats

 

Keepin' it Fresh

   Things are beginning to get exciting around here.  ACE students have been excellent foster parents in keeping the milkweed fresh for the growing larva. Some of them are really looking large. Ms. Rapp's classes have estimated that this weekend we should have some metamorphosis occurring!

 
   Michaelangelo from the library ACE is showing signs as I type. It has begun to spin silk on the top of it's habitat and we should see a chrysalis within a day or so. Whoo-hoo!

   Check out this video to see what else is happening here at the JH!

https://drive.google.com/a/milfordschools.org/file/d/0B0dWW-mWItRCbTdGd01PeU9udEE/view?usp=sharing

Tuesday Newsday

        

Check out the above video!!!

Had to prop the netting with rocks...                     Poor guy with a gimp wing

Our little larva are growing! Check out the one from the library!!!!

Friday Fun Sept 18th

 

 Students checking out the chrysalis' in the garden!

 

Nature can be a Bummer...

The wild cat that we were soooo excited about making the chrysalis on the news room window did not make the transformation.  We are hypothesizing that it got too hot...   :(

        

September 16, 2015

https://drive.google.com/a/milfordschools.org/file/d/0B0dWW-mWItRCbEU3RUVsQ0l0cDQ/view?usp=sharing

Check out the above video. Lots of things going on in the garden!

This Happened Today!

Thanks to Mrs. Vander Veen for putting this together!

Monday pick up

   Today was pick up day. All of the habitats with two inhabitants were set up and ready to join their home ACE.

Check out all of the ACE classes participating (indicated in orange)...66% of all ACEs and one HS class. WOW!

Weekend set-up

   The larva arrived from Monarch Watch in their special delivery box complete with cooler bag late last Friday. (Thanks again, Milford Schools Foundation!) Ms. Rapp and I elevated the milkweed (yep! that gooey green stuff) feeder cups with popsicle sticks so that the teeny larva could breathe until they were moved to their new habitats.

   Then, followed the"great disinfection". Each habitat had to be disinfected chemically and air dried. Look at all of those cool habitats-constructed from Glad ware, screen, and a glue gun. Yes, those are sample cups that will be used to hold the milkweed! Gotta love a cheap and easy set up :)

   Look at how little the larva are...can you find them (2)?

 

Friday was a very busy day in the Garden!

male Monarch newly emerged
from chrysalis

students making observations
and documenting data

empty chrysalis

wild monarch larva

Tagged and ready
to head to Mexico!

Butterfly Enclosure 9-9-15

Butterfly Enclosure 9-4-15

Shout Out!

   
Just want to give a HUGE Shout Out to the Milford Schools Foundation. It is through their generosity that MJHS students will be able to continue raising Monarch larva to release for the Fall migration to Mexico.

Thank you soooooo much for allowing MJHS students to make a difference!

Animoto of MJHS Outdoor Classroom