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Butterfly Garden Necessities

3/31/2020

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🦋Provide a water source such as a bird bath, shallow dish, fountain or pond. Butterflies prefer shallow water!

🦋Place your garden in a sunny area with wind breaks. Trees or sheds provide a nice windbreak for butterflies.

​🦋Native plants are the best choices for your area because insects have evolved with them and have specialized relationships. 

🦋Plant large groupings of the same plant called “pollinator targets”. They are easier to spot from the air and easier to go from plant to plant in small areas.

🦋Keep plants that bloom throughout the growing season called successive blooming. This helps pollinators at each stage of their lives.

🦋Have some early bloomers to help with spring feed visitors as well as some late bloomers for late fall visitors.

🦋Eliminate your use of pesticides which can harm both beneficial and non-native insects.

🦋Pollinators like unkempt gardens so delay the fall cleanup until Spring!

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Common Butterflies and the Plants Their Caterpillars Eat

(Eastern) Black Swallowtail

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Host Plants: Dill, parsley, fennel, carrot

Preferred nectar sources: Golden alexanders (Zizia aptera and Z. aurea), Common Milkweed. Joe-Pye Weed, Late-flowering Boneset, Oregano, Privet, Purple Coneflower, Wild Bergamot, Zinnia

Native range: ​Most of the eastern U.S., north into Quebec, west into S. Saskatchewan, Colorado and SE. California; south to South America. ​

Common Buckeye

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Host plants: Plantains, gerardias, toadflax, snapdragons, false loosestrifes

Preferred nectar sources: Mist Flower, White Clover, Sunflower

Native range: Resident in the southern United States and north along the coasts to central California and North Carolina; south to Bermuda, Cuba, Isle of Pines, and southern Mexico. Adults from the south's first brood migrate north in late spring and summer to temporarily colonize most of the United States and parts of southern Canada. ​

Monarch

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​Host plants: Milkweed species

Preferred nectar sources: Blue Cardinal Flower, Swamp Milkweed, Butterfly Milkweed, Common Milkweed, Heath Aster, Heliotrope, Joe-Pye Weed, Lantana, Late-flowering Boneset, Marigold, Mist Flower, Mustard Greens, New England Aster, New York Ironweed, Showy Coneflower, Smooth Aster, Wingstem, Zinnia

Range: ​Southern Canada south through all of the United States, Central America, and most of South America. Also present in Australia, Hawaii, and other Pacific Islands.

Conservation status: Overwintering sites in California and Mexico should be protected and conserved.

Mourning Cloak

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Host Plants: Willow, aspen, cottonwood, elm

Preferred nectar sources: Oak tree sap

Native range: ​All of North America south of the tundra to central Mexico; rarely in the Gulf States and peninsular Florida. Also native to temperate Eurasia.

Note: Adults live 10-11 months and may be our longest lived butterfly!

​Painted Lady

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Host plants: Thistle, hollyhock, sunflower

Preferred nectar sources: Native thistles; also aster, cosmos, blazing star, ironweed, and joe-pye weed, red clover, buttonbush, privet, and milkweeds.

Native range: ​On all continents except Australia and Antarctica. From the deserts of northern Mexico, the Painted Lady migrates and temporarily colonizes the United States and Canada south of the Arctic. Occasionally, population explosions in Mexico will cause massive northward migrations.

Note: The Painted Lady makes a 9,000 mile roundtrip migration (almost twice as far as the Monarch) ​

Pearl Crescent

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​Host plants: Smooth-leaved true asters including Aster pilosus, A. texanus, and A. laevis.

Preferred nectar sources: Black-Eyed Susan,  Common Dandelion, Daisy Fleabane,  Garlic Chives, Heath Aster, Late-flowering Boneset, Marigold, Mist Flower, New England Aster, Sedum (Autumn Joy), Showy Coneflower, Small White Aster, Stiff Goldenrod, Coreopsis
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Native range: ​Northwest Territories south along the eastern edges of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountains to central Mexico, east through all the eastern United States.

​Red Spotted Purple

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Host plants: Wild cherry, oak, poplar, hawthorn, willow

Preferred nectar sources: Spiraea, privet, and viburnum

Native range: Alaska and subarctic Canada southeast of the Rocky Mountains to central Texas; east to New England and central Florida. Isolated populations in Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas south into Mexico. 
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Note: The Red-spotted Purple is a mimic of the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor).

​Regal Fritillary

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​Host plants: Violets

Preferred nectar sources: Milkweeds, native thistles, red clover, and mountain mint.

Native range: Tall-grass prairie remnants in Montana and North Dakota south to Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma; rare or absent from former range east of the Appalachians.

Conservation status: Rapidly vanishing or declining in much of its range. A species of concern for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. All populations should be conserved.

Tiger Swallowtail

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​Host plants: Willow, cottonwood, chokecherry

Preferred nectar sources: Blue Cardinal Flower, Bloodflower, Garlic Chives, Butterfly Milkweed, Common Milkweed, Daisy Fleabane, Dames Rocket, Dogbane

Native area: ​Eastern North America from Ontario south to Gulf coast, west to Colorado plains and central Texas.

Viceroy ​

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​Host plants: Willow, poplar, apple, cottonwood

Preferred nectar sources: Aster, goldenrod, joe-pye weed, shepherd's needle.

Native range: ​Northwest Territories south along the eastern edges of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountains to central Mexico, east through all the eastern United States.

Conservation status: The Obsolete Viceroy has lost much of its habitat due to development and the exotic aggressive salt cedar. Restore riparian habitats in the Southwest (Moths and Butterflies of North America)

Zebra Swallowtail

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Host plants: Paw paw trees

Preferred nectar sources:  Blueberry, blackberry, lilac, redbud, verbena, dogbane, and common milkweed.

Native range: Central and South Eastern parts of the United States ​

​Red Admiral

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Host plants: Nettle family including: stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), tall wild nettle (U. gracilis), wood nettle (Laportea canadensis), false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), pellitory (Parietoria pennsylvanica), mamaki (Pipturus albidus), and possibly hops (Humulus).

Nectar sources: Dogbane, Lantana, Marigold, Mist Flower, Privet

Native range: ​​Guatemala north through Mexico and the United States to northern Canada; Hawaii, some Caribbean Islands, New Zealand, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia.
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10 Earth Day Activites for Kids

3/20/2020

4 Comments

 

We have compiled our favorite monarch activities to do with kids this Earth Day! These activities can easily be paired with free online lesson plans to give kids an educational experience that they won't forget!

Try our Pollinator Pouches for a variety of wildflowers and milkweed! These seed pouches contain 17 different nectar-rich wildflowers and 4 types of milkweed for a complete nectar and host plant source for butterflies! 

Here are a list of Amazing Monarch Facts that will fascinate kids of all ages! 

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Milkweed Seed Balls

Submitted by Jennifer Dawson
Milkweed seed bombs are fun and easy to make and a great way to create Monarch habitat. Seed bombs are also the perfect winter project to get kids interested in gardening and the environment!

In the same vein as making seed bombs, one could also make a seed bomb out of native pollen-rich plants, so that not only can children save the monarchs, bees, and other pollinators, they can get physical while doing so. After all, many children, especially those who are neurodivergent, tend to learn better through touch. Parents of children on the autism spectrum know this fact intimately, which is why milkweed gardening may provide an additional benefit. 

Milkweed seeds can be purchased from Save Our Monarchs here. If you are a school, 4-H club, scout troop or homeschool provider click here for your FREE seeds. 
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Clay Butterflies

Here is a great tutorial by 'that artist woman' on making clay butterflies! 
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Start Milkweed from Seed

Growing milkweed from seed is a fun activity for all ages and can be taught alongside Rearing Monarchs in the Classroom or a Starting a School Pollinator Garden. 
*Note: It is best to cold stratify milkweed seeds for 30-60 days in order to increase germination rates. Plan your lessons accordingly.  

Milkweed seeds available for purchase here.

If you are a school, 4-H club, scout troop or homeschool provider click here for your FREE seeds. 
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Rear Monarchs 

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!

There are many free online printables on the life cycle of butterflies. This is a great printable for a butterfly journal.  We recommend teaching a lesson on Monarch life cycles in conjunction with rearing Monarchs.  This is a great how-to on rearing monarchs in the classroom or at home. 
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Monarch Mask

Creating and painting Monarch Masks are another fun activity to make with kids while learning about the wonderful world of monarchs! 
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Butterfly Stick Puppet

Perfect for home, school, and butterfly-themed community programs, this color and cut butterfly stick puppet is an easy, inexpensive, and engaging craft for kids of all ages.

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Butterfly Squish Painting

The Butterfly Squish Painting is a very simple, easy art project that can be fun for all ages but especially K-3rd grades. 
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You can also pair art projects like this with activities such as:
​- Rearing monarchs in the classroom
- Starting a butterfly garden
- Fundraising
- Monarch tag and release program
- Bio-blitzes
- Scavenger Hunts
​
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Start a Fundraiser

Save Our Monarchs wants to partner with your school! 

We are currently working with school districts across the country that want to educate their students about the plight of the monarch, and spread the word throughout their community through various fundraising efforts and outreach.

Click here to read more about our two fundraising options. 

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Plant a Butterfly Garden

You don't need a lot of space to start a pollinator garden! A few containers or raised beds can provide a habitat for hungry butterflies and bees. Outdoor classrooms can encourage observation, exploration and  instill land stewardship values. Teachers can also build a curriculum around the garden, focusing on subjects such as: biology, environmental studies, writing, and art.

Our goal is to reach 20K schools garden in 2020 and this includes homeschool gardens!
​
More information on starting a school pollinator garden. 
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Symbolic Monarch Migration

Every year Journey North sends a flock of Monarch symbolic butterflies in the mail to schools in Mexico and they return in the Spring. 

"Join students across the globe to create symbolic monarch butterflies to send to Mexico. Children who live beside the monarchs’ winter sanctuaries in Mexico will protect the paper butterflies and return them in the spring. Through the Symbolic Migration, children are united by the monarch butterfly and celebrate its spectacular migration. They learn authentic lessons of conservation and international cooperation."

​Metamorphosis Dramatization

Submitted by Jennifer Dawson
​This last method needs no actual plants or animals – only enthusiastic children. A monarch caterpillar’s metamorphosis is one of the most dramatic events in the animal world, so why not dramatize it? Children can be induced to put on a play wherein a monarch caterpillar transitions into a monarch butterfly. This can be done with a class of students or at home with parents playing some of the roles. A personalized approach to monarch awareness can be more effective than one that is theoretical.
Monarch butterflies are iconic creatures that many children will feel privileged to learn about. However, they are currently experiencing a population crisis. With the knowledge gained from guest speakers, milkweed planting, and metamorphosis dramatizations, such children can join the fight to save the monarchs.
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​

Get creative and think up your own activity! Please send any Monarch activity ideas to becki@saveourmonarchs.org and we will keep adding to the list. Thank you for reading!

4 Comments

7 Ways to Support Monarchs From Your Own Backyard

3/18/2020

2 Comments

 

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!

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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.
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!


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2 Comments

How to Cold Stratify and Grow Milkweed Seeds

3/8/2020

72 Comments

 

Starting milkweed seeds indoors is a great way to ensure you will have milkweed plants ready for them when they arrive.

Cold stratification is just a fancy way of saying cold exposure and is known to increase germination rates by waking the seeds up from their dormancy cycle. 

Most Milkweed varieties need 30 days of cold exposure to break their dormancy cycle and this can easily be done in your own home. In nature, this keeps Milkweed plants from germinating at times when conditions are not favorable for growth. 
 

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Asclepias incarnata stratifying in a cold/moist chamber at the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. Photo by Rebecca Chandler.

Materials Needed

  • 1 Quart Ziploc  Bag
  • Milkweed Seeds
  • Paper Towels
  • Sharpie Pen
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Step 1: Wet a paper towel and lay on a flat surface. 

Wet a paper towel and gently wring it out so it is damp but not dripping with water. Too much water may cause the seeds to mold inside the bag. 

Step 2: Sprinkle 10-20 milkweed seeds on the paper towel. 

I may be best to sprinkle the seeds onto half of the paper towel so when you fold it, the seeds will not overlap.
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Step 3: Fold the paper towel into quarters. 

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​Step 4: Place the paper towel into the bag, seal, and label. 

​Label the bag with the date and type of seed. I like to include both the common and scientific name but this is up to you. You may even want to set a reminder on your phone or calendar so you can remember to take them out in 30 days.
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Step 5: Place in the refrigerator for 30-60 days. 

​Store the mixture in the refrigerator (33–38°F) for the recommended time on your seed packet. For Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) Prairie Moon Nursery recommends 30 days of cold stratification. 

Make sure to put your seeds somewhere safe in the fridge where they will not be disturbed. I like to put the bag into a tupperware container to ensure they don't get smashed or damaged. Check on the seeds after a few weeks and if you notice the seeds starting to sprout in the bag, plant immediately!
​​Recommended Cold Stratification Periods According to Milkweed Species

Common Milkweed              (Asclepias syriaca)         30 days
Swamp Milkweed                  (Asclepias incarnata)    30 days
Whorled Milkweed              (Asclepias verticillata)  30 days
Prairie Milkweed                   (Asclepias sullivantii)    30 days
Western Sand Milkweed  (Asclepias arenaria)       60 days
Butterfly Milkweed             (Asclepias tuberosa)       30 days
Showy Milkweed                   (Asclepias speciosa)       30 days

*Note that warm weather species such as Tropical Milkweed do not need a cold stratification period. 

How to Plant Milkweed Seeds Indoors

Step 1: Place seeds in trays

​After 30-60 days, it’s time to plant your Milkweed seeds. You can plant them in seed trays, peat pots, small pots or any other container that allows for water drainage. Dampen your soil with a spray bottle full of water and place 1-2 seeds into each 2" container. Sow seeds lightly on the top of the soil. You may press in gently but they need light to germinate so please don’t bury them!

Step 2: Water seeds gently

Be gentle when watering new seedlings because they are very delicate. It is recommended to water from the bottom up by adding a half-inch of water to the bottom of a tray and placing the pots inside this tray. Some people prefer to use a spray mister to water their seedlings. 

You can check the soil moisture simply by touching it to see if it feels damp. Take care not to overwater your seeds which can lead to fungus growth. It is helpful to have a fan nearby to provide airflow and ventilation. 

Step 4: Your seeds need light!

Make sure your milkweed has enough light to grow whether that be under an artificial grow light or near a sunny window. If your seedlings start to become "leggy" expose them to more light.  The sturdier the seedling, the better!

Step 5: Plant outdoors

Milkweed seeds can be sown outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and the seedlings have grown around 1-5 inches high. To make the transition from indoors to outdoors less stressful, start by putting the seedlings outdoors for a few hours a day for up to a week before planting them outdoors. ​

Resources

The American Meadows Blog: How to Germinate and Grow Milkweed Seed.
https://www.americanmeadows.com/blog/2015/06/11/how-to-germinate-and-grow-milkweed-seed/

Prairie Moon Nursery: How to Germinate Native Seeds.
https://www.prairiemoon.com/blog/how-to-germinate-native-seeds
​
Henrikson, Bob. Gardening with Prairie Plants. Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. 
https://plantnebraska.org/plants/bloom-box/resources-for-bloom-box-gardeners.html
72 Comments

5 Steps to Planting Milkweed Seeds Indoors

3/7/2020

37 Comments

 
The Monarchs are already starting to migrate North, will you be ready for them? Unsure when the Monarchs will be coming through your area or state? Check Journey North's Migrations Map to find out!

I started cold stratifying my Butterfly Milkweed seeds at the beginning of March. 30 days have passed and they are ready to be planted!

It is worth noting that cold stratifying your seeds increases germination rates but is not absolutely necessary. The most important thing is that you get them planted. Most milkweed is a perennial in the lower 48 states so even if you are getting off to a late start, have no fear, they will come back next year and feed the next generations! 

Step 1: Gather your materials

You will need:
A clean seed tray (a baking pan works well too)
Seed cells
Sterilized seed starting mix
Milkweed  seeds
Water
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It is best to use a designated seed starting mix because it is lighter and less dense than regular potting soil, which allows the roots to establish more easily. Milkweed is slender and doesn't need much room to grow so go ahead and plant many seeds!

Step 2: Add soil 

I like to pour a heaping amount of soil mix onto the center of my seed insert and then spread it evenly with the edge of my seed packet or anything with a straight edge. I then gently tap the bottom of the seed tray on a flat surface to let the soil mix settle just a bit.
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Step 3: Make holes 

I like to use the eraser-end of a pencil to get ¼ in holes in my soil. It’s a convenient and consistent way to get uniform sized holes. I have also sprinkled the seeds on top of the soil and then sprinkled a layer of soil over them with success. 
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Step 4: Plant your seeds

Place 1-3 Milkweed seeds in each hole. Placing multiple seeds in each hole will increase your chances of getting a seedling in each cell. Then, gently push the soil mix back over your seeds. ​
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Step 5: Water

Watering from the bottom up is the recommended method because it won’t disturb the seedlings and will also prevent over-watering. Simply pour about ½ inch of water into the tray then place the seed inserts on top. I like to use a water mister to also spray the top layer of my seed tray and then cover with a plastic lid or plastic wrap to keep the seeds moist. Remove the lid after a few days so that the seeds get air-flow and mold does not develop. 
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Lastly...

For 3-5 days, your seeds won't need light but a seed heating mat will help them to germinate. Once they sprout, immediately put them in a sunny window or under a grow light. If you wait too long they may get "leggy" from lack of sunlight or become moldy. 

If they start to look leggy, you know that they need more light. You can plant your Milkweed outside after the danger of frost has passed. Check here to find out w
hen the last frost date is for your region.

Plant the Milkweed and the Monarchs will come!
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    Author

    Rebecca Chandler
    Garden Educator, Naturalist and Ethnobotanist

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NOTE: You can also receive FREE SEEDS by sending us a self-addressed stamped envelope to: 
​
Save Our Monarchs | P.O. Box 947 | Chanhassen, MN 55317
Please include a $5 donation with each request.
​
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  • Monarch Story
    • Why Milkweed?
    • Monarch Migration
    • Help Us Expand
    • How To Raise Monarch Butterflies At Home
    • How You Can Help
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Get Seeds
    • Seed Packets
    • Bulk Seeds
  • Donate
    • School Pollinator Garden Program
    • Nebraska/SOM
    • Donate Stock
    • In Memoriam
    • In Honor
  • Store
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  • Schools
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  • About Us
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