 Bloom SuccessionBloom succession- plants that start blooming at different times of the year- is a huge component to planning a thriving pollinator garden. It creates a beautiful year-long display and also provides butterflies with a food source all year long! Make sure to consult your local native plant nursery or extension office to get accurate bloom-times for your flowers. Sometimes a plant that is distributed throughout the U.S. will bloom slightly earlier in the warmer regions compared to the colder Northern regions. Pollinators need more than just flowers to survive. They also need leaves to feed and reproduce on. Plant a variety of plants that are both nectar sources as well as host sources for insects. Butterflies also need shelter from wind and rain. Having a mixture of plants in your garden such as trees, shrubs, grasses and sedges will provide great habitat for a variety of insects.  Plant Native PlantsBenjamin Vogt, author of “A New Garden Ethic” says, “Right plant, right place. The benefit of native plants is in their wildlife support, and re-wilding the landscapes we've erased around our homes.” There are many resources out there to start researching native plants in your area. Remember, your local extension is a great resource along with local botanical gardens and native plant nurseries. Some plants such as the Butterfly bush (Buddleja sp.) are known for being a great pollinator plant. However, they can become invasive since they are not native. Butterfly bush is not a host to a single insect species in the U.S. and has been banned from being sold in Oregon. That doesn't mean that it doesn't offer nectar. However, it offers nectar only to the insects with a specialized proboscis to reach the nectar. Think Like a ButterflyGive it a try! It may help you to appeal to the butterflies you are trying to protect. If you were a butterfly, what would you enjoy the most? Perhaps, moisture, a place to rest and nectar of course! When the growing season is over, that doesn't mean the butterflies are gone. If you leave your plants and leaves and delay plant material removal, they can provide butterflies a home in the winter. Benjamin Vogt recommends, cutting down perennial flower stems and grasses to about 12 to 18 inches tall, which will leave future homes for spring and summer bees to nest. Happy Gardening! 
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"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."- Oscar Wilde |
 An adult monarch butterfly |  An adult viceroy butterfly. Note the black line across it's hind wing, differentiating it from the monarch. |
The viceroy caterpillar doesn't look anything like the monarch caterpillar
Why is it important to be able to tell the difference between the two?
- Citizen science is only helpful if the data is accurate. Monarch populations are in decline and it is important to be able to report sightings in order to gather data on their migration cycle.
- Planning your butterfly garden. Viceroys feed on all plants in the willow family, but the females will also deposit eggs on plums, apples and cherries. Monarchs feed and reproduce solely on Milkweed.
- It’s fun and educational! You can impress your peers by being able to aptly identify different kinds of butterfly and also be able to share this knowledge with others to increase conservation efforts.
Why does the monarch taste bad to predators?
The monarch is unpalatable to its predators because it feeds on milkweed as a caterpillar which contains toxic cardiac glycosides. It’s brightly colored wings also serve as a warning sign of its toxicity to its predators.
Other lookalikes
Although black and white, the painted lady (Vanessa cardui), has quite a different pattern than the Monarch. It has scalloped orange wings with black patches. The tips of its forewings are black with white splotches. Its underside is a mottled gray, brown, and black with four eyespots. The painted lady is also called the thistle butterfly because it likes thistles and the cosmopolitan butterfly because it is found all over the world (NHPBS).
The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) has much more black than the Monarch. It has a black upper forewing with a bright, diagonal red-orange band across it and spots of white on the tips. It also has a red marginal band on its hindwing and the underside is a mottled brown.
The queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) has white spots on its hind wings, distinguishing it from the monarch. It is also a darker color orange than monarchs. During the caterpillar phase, however, the monarch and queen are very similar.
Here is a picture of a queen caterpillar on top and a monarch caterpillar on bottom. They are closely related and in the same genus (Danaus). Queen butterflies do not migrate.
Soldier butterfly (Danaus eresimus) is a cousin to the monarch (Danaus plexippus). It is a darker orange than the monarch and has white spots on its wing borders. It is also smaller than the monarch.
Every Milkweed Counts.
Teachers and educators can sign up here to receive their free seed packets and join Save Our Monarch's Pollinator Garden Program.
You don't need a lot of space to start a pollinator garden and just a few containers or raised beds can provide a habitat for hungry butterflies and bees. Having this outdoor classroom can encourage observation, exploration and a instill land stewardship values. Teachers can also build a curriculum around the garden, focusing on subjects such as: biology, environmental studies, writing, and art.
Save Our Monarch's Pollinator Garden Program encourages every school, scout troop and 4H club to participate. Once enrolled, schools will receive three 3 free Milkweed seed packets and one a pollinator mix, containing 25 wildflower varieties. Our goal is to plant over 1,000 Pollinator gardens across the US this year.
You don't need a lot of space to start a pollinator garden and just a few containers or raised beds can provide a habitat for hungry butterflies and bees. Having this outdoor classroom can encourage observation, exploration and a instill land stewardship values. Teachers can also build a curriculum around the garden, focusing on subjects such as: biology, environmental studies, writing, and art.
Save Our Monarch's Pollinator Garden Program encourages every school, scout troop and 4H club to participate. Once enrolled, schools will receive three 3 free Milkweed seed packets and one a pollinator mix, containing 25 wildflower varieties. Our goal is to plant over 1,000 Pollinator gardens across the US this year.
Getting Started
First you may need to establish a committee, club, or talk with students to see who is interested in caring for the garden. If there is already a Garden Club in place, then you are halfway there! Consider starting a Roots and Shoots Club which has a large community and thousands of free resources for teachers and educators.
If you don't already have a garden site established at your school or community space, have the students scope out a good location for the garden. The garden will need to receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight and have easy access to water. Remember that raised beds and container-gardening are great options as well.
If you don't already have a garden site established at your school or community space, have the students scope out a good location for the garden. The garden will need to receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight and have easy access to water. Remember that raised beds and container-gardening are great options as well.
Do your research
Research pollinator species native to your region and find out what they need to thrive and reproduce. Then, you can call or visit local nurseries in your area to find these plants and discover what soil types they prefer. It is also important to choose plants that bloom at different times so that you will have year-long food source for pollinator species.
Choose seeds or small plants
Small plants that have already started growing in a nursery are simple and have a much higher rate of success. However, seed-starting is also a great activity for students that can begin as early as January. Seed-starting is best if you plan ahead and start early. Seed-starting can also be a good option if you are creating a very large garden as they tend to cost less. Also, look for free seeds and donations!
Plant Native
Use as many plants native to your region as possible. Native plants have evolved closely with native species and will be able to provide them with food shelter. In fact, some pollinator species are entirely dependent on the availability of certain native plants.
In general, the more variety the better! You want to attract as many different types of pollinators as you can. When in doubt, call your local plant nursery or extension office and ask what they recommend. Plants that are a variety of shapes, sizes and colors will accommodate the most variety of pollinators.
In general, the more variety the better! You want to attract as many different types of pollinators as you can. When in doubt, call your local plant nursery or extension office and ask what they recommend. Plants that are a variety of shapes, sizes and colors will accommodate the most variety of pollinators.
Build a Curriculum
Science/Biology – Study the life cycles, reproductive cycles, and anatomy of pollinators. Take the students outside and observe them in their natural habitat. Another fun activity is rearing Monarchs in the classroom and later releasing them in your garden.
English – Challenge students to write poetry and engage in creative writing while they sit and observe their favorite butterfly or plant.
History/Social Studies – Discuss how the environment has changed over the years and how this can relate to different pollinator species.
Art- The possibilities are endless for art projects related to the garden and pollinators! You can encourage students to make signs for the garden or paint raised beds to build pride around their garden. Get creative with different art media such as clay, paper, rock, colored pencils and so forth!
English – Challenge students to write poetry and engage in creative writing while they sit and observe their favorite butterfly or plant.
History/Social Studies – Discuss how the environment has changed over the years and how this can relate to different pollinator species.
Art- The possibilities are endless for art projects related to the garden and pollinators! You can encourage students to make signs for the garden or paint raised beds to build pride around their garden. Get creative with different art media such as clay, paper, rock, colored pencils and so forth!
Plant, Water and Wait!
Once you have found your garden group, done your research and acquired your plants or seeds, it's time to plant! Remember that gardens require regular maintenance so it is important to establish specific times ,such as at the beginning of class, to visit the garden. Then just wait for the bees and butterflies to start filling your garden.
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Author
Rebecca Chandler
Garden Educator, Naturalist and Ethnobotanist
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