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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

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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!

In addition, we are offering 50% off our Pollinator Pouches to families who are homeschooling their children. The 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 Bombs

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!
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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!

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7 Ways to Support Monarchs From Your Own Backyard

3/18/2020

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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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How to Cold Stratify and Grow Milkweed Seeds

3/8/2020

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The monarchs have begun to leave their overwintering grounds in Mexico and are heading North! 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

Step 1: Place Seeds in a Ziploc Bag

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. Spread your Milkweed seeds out on the damp paper towel and fold it so the paper towel fits inside the Ziploc bag.

​Step 2: Label the Bag

​Label the bag with the date and type of seed. 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 3: Place in the Refrigerator

​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
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Henrikson, Bob. Gardening with Prairie Plants. Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. 
https://plantnebraska.org/plants/bloom-box/resources-for-bloom-box-gardeners.html
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5 Steps to Planting Milkweed Seeds Indoors

3/7/2020

19 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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10 Must-Read Books for Monarch Enthusiasts

2/19/2020

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Looking for ways to pass the time until Spring is here? This list of must-reads will help you to better understand Monarch behavior and habitat!
​From novels to field guides to gardening manuals to educational guides, there is something for everyone!

10. Milkweed Monarchs and More: A Field Guide to the Invertebrate Community in the Milkweed Patch
Ba Rea, Dr. Karen Oberhauser, and Michael A. Quinn 

Milkweed, Monarchs and More, was created to be a field guide and provide basic background information for volunteers in the citizen science Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, as well as monarch enthusiasts and classrooms involved in monarch studies. It covers the diverse natural community thrives in the milkweed growing along our highways and woodland edges; in our open fields, fragmented prairies and vacant lots; and in our lovingly tended gardens. The Enlarged and Updated Edition is in response to requests for a larger format-­­­­more classroom friendly for student reports and easier on older eyes.
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9. Flight Behavior
​Barbara Kingsolver

Okay, so this is not a book entirely about Monarch butterflies and it is certainly not a how-to book. However, much of the plot-line centers around the mysterious appearance of Monarch butterflies in rural town in Tennessee. Flight Behavior follows a young wife and mother on a failing farm who experiences something she cannot explain, and how her discovery energizes various competing factions—religious leaders, climate scientists, environmentalists, politicians—trapping her in the center of the conflict and ultimately opening up her world.
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8. Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America
Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman

​Every gardener should have a great butterfly field guide in their library! There are several great butterfly field guides out there including :National Audubon Field Guide to Insects & Spiders, Golden Guide to Butterflies & Moths and Peterson First Guide to Butterflies & Moths. Any of these will work but I recommend Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America because it is well-written, easy to use and has a great range of illustrations. It also includes a shadowed silhouette of each butterfly to show the size. The guide breaks down how to identify butterflies correctly by size, shape, posture, flight style, and behavior. 
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7. How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids (How It Works)
Carol Pasternak 

This is a great how-to on raising Monarch butterflies for adults and children alike! How to Raise Monarch Butterflies explains what threats Monarchs face today and how readers can help conserve the Monarch's feeding grounds from encroachment. It also includes vivid photos, secrets to finding monarch eggs and information on propagating milkweed. 
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6. Attracting Native Pollinators: The Xerces Society Guide, Protecting North America's Bees and Butterflies
The Xerxes Society

 In Attracting Native Pollinators, you’ll find ideas for building nesting structures and creating a welcoming habitat for an array of diverse pollinators that includes not only bees, but butterflies, moths, and more. Take action and protect North America’s food supply for the future, while at the same time enjoying a happily bustling landscape.
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5. The Monarch: Saving Our Most-Loved Butterfly
Kylee Baumle

The Monarch showcases this Monarch butterfly with eye-popping photos, fun facts about a monarch’s life cycle, and things to know about the vital role that pollinators play in our ecosystem. Monarch enthusiast and nature blogger Kylee Baumle provides “action” projects for all ages, from planting milkweed and wildflowers to making butterfly watering stations and to volunteer activism.
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4. Monarchs and Milkweed: A Migrating Butterfly, a Poisonous Plant, and Their Remarkable Story of Coevolution 
Anurag Agrawal

This is a must-read for Monarch enthusiasts! In Monarchs and Milkweed, Anurag Agrawal presents a vivid investigation into how the monarch butterfly has evolved closely alongside the milkweed and how this inextricable and intimate relationship has been like an arms race over the millennia, a battle of exploitation and defense between two fascinating species. It is scientifically rich without sacrificing it's readability. Author, Anurag Agrawal, is a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Department of Entomology at Cornell University.
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3. Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard
Douglas W. Tallamy

Douglas W. Tallamy’s first book, Bringing Nature Home, awakened thousands of readers to an urgent situation: wildlife populations are in decline because the native plants they depend on are fast disappearing.  In this new book, Tallamy takes the next step and outlines his vision for a grassroots approach to conservation. Nature’s Best Hope shows how homeowners everywhere can turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats. Even more important, it’s practical, effective, and easy—you will walk away with specific suggestions you can incorporate into your own yard.
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2. A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future
Benjamin Vogt 

This is a small, yet mighty, book that is a call-to-action for gardeners to start looking at our gardens with a new perspective. In A New Garden Ethic, Vogt prompts us to ask why urban gardens are so important right now and what we can do to help species on the verge of extinction. 
"Our landscapes push aside wildlife and in turn diminish our genetically-programmed love for wildness. How can we get ourselves back into balance through gardens, to speak life's language and learn from other species?"
Get a first edition, signed copy here!
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1. Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants
​Douglas W. Tallamy

​Bringing Nature Home is a absolute must-read for the passionate gardener. Douglas W. Tallamy reveals the unbreakable link between native plant species and native wildlife—native insects cannot, or will not, eat alien plants. When native plants disappear, the insects disappear, impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals.
​But there is an important and simple step we can all take to help reverse this alarming trend: everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution toward sustaining biodiversity by simply choosing native plants. By acting on Douglas Tallamy's practical and achievable recommendations, we can all make a difference.
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How to Choose Which Milkweed to Plant

2/13/2020

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Milkweed, or Asclepias, is the sole food plant for monarch caterpillars and due to its increasing scarcity, one of the biggest factors contributing to the decline of the monarch butterfly.

Milkweed is in one of the largest genera of plants with over 200 species. It may seem daunting on how to choose the right one but we are here to help!

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Consider these 3 things when buying your milkweed.

1. Is the milkweed native to your region?

A native plant is described as a plant that is indigenous to a given geographic area and existed in North America before European settlement. Native plants support local species of insects and promote a biodiverse ecosystem. Insects have evolved with specific plants and depend on them for food, shelter and defense against predators. As we know, the sole food source for monarch caterpillars is milkweed and without this plant, they could not survive!

Grow Milkweed Plants recently released a great tool for finding out which species of milkweed is native to your country and state. Simply click on your region for a list native milkweeds. For more information on species of milkweeds visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 

2. Has it been treated with pesticides?

If you are purchasing milkweed from a nursery, be cautious and make sure they have not been sprayed with pesticides. A large amount of plant nurseries will spray their plants with insecticides in order to make them look healthier and deter insects. If caterpillars feed on plants that have been sprayed with  pesticides, especially systemic insecticides, they will die when they consume any part of the plant.

3. Could I harvest the seeds myself?

Plants that grow well and are adapted to a particular environment or ecosystem will grow better than other plants even within the same species. This is because they are genetically better suited to thrive in that particular environment. These plants are called local genotypes and if you have access to wild milkweed plants growing in your area, the best possible thing you can do is harvest the seeds yourself. 

If you live in North America, you can't go wrong with these widespread species of Milkweed plants. Most are commercially available. 

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Native Range: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV
Description: This tall perennial has large balls of pink or purplish flowers that have an attractive odor. The flowers bloom from June to August.
Growing Conditions: Shade intolerant, needs lots of sunlight, moist soil
Plant Size: Usually 3-5 feet (90-150 cm), sometimes reaching 8 feet (240 cm) in ditches and gardens

Buy from our store HERE!

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Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

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Native Range: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV
Description:  Sometimes called Orange Milkweed, this perennial has large, flat-topped clusters of yellow-orange or bright-orange flowers and blooms May to September.
Growing Conditions: Needs sunlight, drought tolerant, dry or moist soil
Plant Size:  1-2 ft (30-60 cm)

Available in our Pollinator Garden Mix!

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

​Native Range: AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY
Description: Also known as Pink Milkweed, this perennial has large blossoms composed of small, rose-purple flowers. The deep pink flowers are clustered at the top of a tall, branching stem and bloom June to October.
Growing Conditions: Needs lots of water, shade tolerant, moist to wet soil
Plant Size: 2-5 ft (60-152 cm)
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Antelope Milkweed (Asclepias asperula)

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Native Range: AZ, CA, CO, ID, KS, NE, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT
Description: Also known as Spider Milkweed, this perennial is clump-forming with stems that are densely covered with minute hairs. As the green seed pods grow, they curve to resemble antelope horns. It has pale, greenish-yellow flowers, tinged maroon that bloom March to October.
Growing Conditions: Needs sunlight, dry or moist soil, medium water use
Plant Size: 1-2 ft (30-60 cm) tall

Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Native Range: AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, KS, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY
Description: This perennial has large, oval, blue-green leaves and spherical clusters of rose-colored flowers. The flowers occur at the top of the stem and on stalks from leaf axils and bloom May to September.
Growing Conditions: Shade intolerant, needs sunlight, medium water use, moist soil
Plant Size: Generally 1 ½ – 3 ft (46 – 91 cm) but can reach 6 ft (183 cm) under favorable conditions
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White Milkweed (Asclepias variegata)

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Native Range: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
Description: This perennial has small white flowers with purplish centers crowded into round, terminal clusters that resemble snowballs and blooms May to September.
Growing Conditions: Low water use, dry soil, moderately shade tolerant
Plant Size:  1-3 ft (30- 91 cm)

Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)

Native Range: AL, AR, AZ, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY
Description: This single-stemmed perennial has narrow, linear leaves whorled along the stem. Small, greenish-white flowers occur in flat-topped clusters on the upper part of the stem and bloom May to September.
Growing Conditions: Low water use, moderately shade tolerant, dry soil
Plant Size: 1-3 ft (30- 91 cm)
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Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis)

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Native Range: AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, NE, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, WV
Description: Also known as Green Antelopehorn Milkweed, this perennial has white flowers – mostly one per plant and lacks the “horns” seen on Antelopehorn Milkwed. These milkweeds bloom from May to August.
Growing Conditions: Needs sunlight, cold and heat tolerant, moist soil, low water use
Plant Size: Matures to 4 ft (122 cm) in height

Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens)

Native Range: AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
Description: The milky juice from this perennial is known to remove warts. The flowers are deep magenta red and bloom May to July.
Growing Conditions: Needs sunlight and dry soil
Plant Size: 2-4 ft (61 to 122 cm)
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2 Comments

Butterfly Gardening 101

2/11/2020

3 Comments

 

Although we are in the depths of winter, it is a great time to start planning your butterfly garden!

Reasons to start now:

- Seeds may take weeks to arrive if ordering online or from a catalog. 
- Thinking about summer may just put you in a better mood.
- Native plants like Common Milkweed often need a cold stratification period of 30-60 days.

- Starting the seeds indoors will ensure they are ready when spring arrives.

Here are a list of common butterflies as well as their host plants, preferred nectar sources and native range.

Remember, pollinators have evolved with their host plants and they will only lay their eggs on these specific plants. They also need nectar-sources once they reach adulthood so having a combination of both will guarantee a successful butterfly garden!

Lastly, please source your seeds from certified organic companies and avoid the use of pesticides which are harmful to butterflies and other pollinators.


Purchase our Garden Pollinator Mix which includes 17 wildflowers here!

(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) 

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, 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.

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.

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, and Canada thistle.

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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Red Admiral

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 ​
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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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Organic Seed Companies

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References

Butterflies and Moths of North America. 'https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org'
Butterfly nectar plants. 'https://www.thebutterflysite.com/butterfly-food.shtml'
Butterfly host plants. 'https://www.thebutterflysite.com/create-butterfly-garden.shtml'
3 Comments

How to Track Monarch Butterflies Using the Latest Technology

1/30/2020

5 Comments

 
Co-written by Jennifer Dawson and ​Rebecca Chandler

Monarch butterflies are an iconic species known for their incredible mass migration across North America each winter — a journey of up to 3,000 miles. However, numbers of monarch butterflies have unfortunately fallen precipitously over the past two decades. Using cutting-edge technology to monitor monarch butterflies may be able to help us learn more about this wonderful species and, ultimately, help us better protect them. 

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Camera drones

Drones can be a great way to monitor monarch butterflies in flight and visually record the findings. Drones come with advanced GPS tracking systems, which let you track the drone’s activity and flight data from your smartphone. They also allow you to take high-resolution photos for highly accurate data analysis. They’re able to collect data in harsh weather conditions or locations it may be otherwise difficult to reach. Drones can also be easy to use and quiet, so you won’t have to worry about disrupting wildlife. However, it’s important to follow safety precautions when operating drones. In particular, check out the rules and regulations in your city or state concerning drone usage. That way, you can be in accordance with the law and avoid being hit with any fines or penalties when tracking monarch butterflies

Electronic tags

Electronic tags were recently placed on free-flying monarch butterflies for the first time ever in recorded history. Martin Wikelski, an ecologist, worked with Chip Taylor, a monarch butterfly expert, on the project aiming to shed light on monarch migration habits. The electronic tags are extremely lightweight (weighing .007 of an ounce) and were carefully attached to each individual butterfly by hand. Initially, the butterflies had to become accustomed to the slight extra weight before flying off happily. Scientists can now track the butterflies on their migration journey for thousands of miles, study their habits, and discover their favored habitats along the way. 
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Tracking apps 

Researchers at the University of Maine have created a new app called the Monarch Model Validation Project that allows people on the East Coast to take photos of monarch butterfly migration sites. Users can also include written details of where exactly they saw the butterflies. By studying photos of roosting butterflies researchers can learn where the butterflies rest overnight on their migration journeys. The app is a unique way concerned citizens can help scientists learn more about this iconic species. HabiTally is another app that has been developed by Iowa State University in collaboration with the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium. This app allows users to anonymously submit data which will report increases in milkweed across the U.S. and also tell us where current habitat exists. 
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​Technology is continually evolving to help us understand monarch butterflies better. Drones, electronic tags, and apps all play an essential role in helping us discover more about and, ultimately, conserve the species.

5 Comments

20,000 School Gardens in 2020

1/2/2020

2 Comments

 

​The Save Our Monarchs Foundation is devoted to saving the monarch butterfly from extinction by promoting the planting of milkweed and native flowers across the US.

In five years, Save Our Monarchs has distributed over 100 MILLION milkweed seeds, which may have contributed to the recent increase in the monarch population.

Also, Save Our Monarchs has sponsored over 6,200 Monarch School Wildflower Gardens across the US and Canada, offering all the necessary seeds to create a 10’ x 10’ Wildflower garden in each schools at no-cost to the schools. In 2020, our goal is to create 20,000 Wildflower garden schools. ​

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We need help to reach the goal of 20K School Gardens in 2020!

Even the smallest donation will help the cause. If you would like to donate to our School Pollinator Program you can donate as little as $2. 

The good news is that in 2018-2019 the migration from Mexico to the US was up 140% over the previous year, the first time since 1992 that there has been an increase.

We would like to offer our sincere gratitude to everyone across North America who has rallied to this cause, planting their own pollinator gardens and especially the thousands of participants in Save Our Monarchs who had a direct hand in the repopulating of the monarch

Much more info is available at the SaveOurMonarchs.org website, and also at Facebook.com/SaveOurMonarchs.

So, Happy New Year to you and yours!

And we thank you and the monarchs thank you.
​
Ward Johnson
Director
SaveOurMonarchs.org
612-356-4527
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2 Comments
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    Rebecca Chandler
    Garden Educator, Naturalist and Ethnobotanist

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