Attracting Monarchs

Last summer, I was excited to find a monarch caterpillar on some dillweed in my herb garden. Then the next day, it was suddenly gone. What can I do to get monarch caterpillars to stick around longer?

—Letsy Goza, Russellville, Arkansas

Tom: You probably saw a fully mature caterpillar in your herb garden. It was likely looking for a place to pupate, so you didn't recognize it in its new form. By planting dillweed, you're already on the right track. Try planting milkweed, which is the host plant for monarchs. Look closely on the plants for a sign of feeding. The caterpillars are often on the underside of the leaves, especially when they are small.