There has never been a more important time to help Monarch populations! By planting milkweed, you can improve the chances that Monarchs will find their catperpillar food plant during the upcoming migration. A few of the most common milkweeds are highlighted on NABA’s Monarchs and Milkweed pages.
Here is a group of high school students in Waverly, Iowa who are helping Monarch populations. They have created a nice website with information that is appropriate to share with schools. In addition to educating through their website, they have been raising funds for various butterfly conservation organizations. http://wsrmonarchproject.weebly.com
Max Munoz, Grounds Manager at National Butterfly Center, presents plant of the month for March. Each month a differant butterfly garden plant native to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas is highlighted. March’s plant is milkweed and like Max says “plant it and they will come.”
Originally published in American Butterflies, “A Little Help from Some Friends: The Monarch Joint Venture” was written in 2010 when Monarch Joint Venture was fairly new. With the long term health of the Monarch migration uncertain, MJV and its work involving Monarch conservation is more important than ever.
There has been so much confusion among butterfly lovers about whether or not they should plant Tropical Milkweed since a scientific study and press release (http://news.uga.edu/…/monarch-butterflies-loss-of-migratio…/) came out on January 15th. Thanks to the authors of that study for helping to clarify some of the details with their response on the Monarch Joint Venture website….
The latest issue of NABA’s member publication American Butterflies is in the mail! Featured in this issue of American Butterflies is an article discussing Tropical Milkweed and its effect on Monarchs. Despite widely distributed public opinions to the contrary, we suggest that you don’t give up on Tropical Milkweed just yet. Read the full article at: Tropical Milkweed and the Injurious…
