7 Ways to Support Monarchs From Your Own Backyard

Although many of us are spending more time at home due to the health crisis, ​there are still many ways you can support the monarchs without leaving your backyard. Now is the perfect time to start brainstorming your beautiful butterfly garden, planting milkweed and collecting data to help with citizen science projects!

During these trying times it is more important than ever to engage in activities that bring joy and hope to others. The monarchs are heading north now and we hope that everyone will greet them with milkweed to lay their eggs and wildflowers to fuel their flight! We thank you all for your efforts!

1. Plant Pollinator Habitat Wherever You Can

By starting a butterfly garden, you are providing necessary sustenance for Monarchs along their long migration route and providing them with breeding grounds so that successive generations of Monarchs are able to complete their migration route to Mexico. The need for host plants and nectar plants applies to all Monarchs as well as other butterfly populations.

2. Teach Children About Monarch Conservation

There are a variety of fun activities to engage kids in monarch conservation and biology! Remember that you are educating the next generation of monarch conservationists!

One great way to engage children in Monarch conservation is to plant a garden at school or at home! Save Our Monarchs has provided seeds for over 6,000 school gardens and our goal is to install 20,000 gardens in 2020! Help us to reach our goal by getting your free seeds today!

3. Rear Monarchs from Home

In the wild, Monarch eggs and larvae have a very small chance of survival. Several studies have documented mortality rates of over 90% during the egg and larva stages.
That means only 10% of eggs and caterpillars will reach adulthood! 

Not only is this a fun activity for the whole family but you are helping out an entire species!

4. Start Your Milkweed Indoors

Starting seeds at home is a cost-efficient and fun way to get a head-start on the gardening  season! With a little bit of planning, it will also ensure that you have milkweed plants growing outside when the monarchs migrate through your region. Starting your seeds in a controlled environment allows you to make adjustments to soil, temperature, and moisture for best germination results.

You can also refer to our  blog post on How to start Milkweed seeds indoors to get started!​ It's not too late to buy seeds!

5. Participate in a Citizen Science Projects

Becoming a citizen scientist is fun and allows you to virtually connect with other nature enthusiasts, naturalists and conservationists. Citizen scientists from around the country log data and observations which is vital to understanding the monarch migration, biological cycles and why they are disappearing. 

6. Support Organizations Working to Sustain Monarchs

Make a donation to your favorite monarch or pollinator conservation program. Many programs are donation-based and are fighting to save our monarchs. 

7. Conduct Your Own Research​

There are many resources out there about monarch conservation and butterfly gardening. Doing your own research will stir up questions and allow you to educate other on ways to help our pollinators. Your local library is a great place to start your research!