Monarchs Need Our Help in 2024
The new year arrives and with it a new urgency to help our beloved monarch butterflies. Last year was a very bad year for Eastern monarchs. Anecdotally, those of us with pollinator gardens reported seeing only a few monarchs (and other butterflies) all season whereas in past years there would be far greater numbers. What’s going on?
Every year, eastern monarch butterflies migrate almost 3000 miles from Canada and the U.S. to Mexico where they overwinter in the forests of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. In 2023 monarch presence dropped 22%, a dramatic decline that has been accelerating over the last 25 years. Pesticide and herbicide use along with rampant development of natural areas and climate change is fueling this rapid decline. Spring drought conditions in the southern US have been especially harmful. (Wildlife Management Institute)
Monarchs need late season nectar plants like goldenrod to fuel their migration south.
Monarchs need a healthy migratory path to survive, it is our responsibility to provide one for them. Over 86% of land east of the Mississippi River is privately owned. We are the stewards of our environment, how we tend our property, our own yards, will determine whether monarchs and other wildlife have a future.
So what can we as individuals do?
1) Plant Milkweed (host plant) and Monarch Nectar Plants:
Monarchs must have milkweed to survive, this is the only plant that monarch caterpillars can eat. Now is the time to plant milkweed seeds as they must go through a cycle of freezing and thawing to germinate, i.e. cold stratification. TEAC has lots of locally collected rose milkweed seeds, you can pick them up at the Children's Room in Warner Library along with other seeds for winter planting such as goldenrod, joe pye weed and anise hyssop which will nourish monarchs and other pollinators throughout the seasons as they prepare for their incredible migration south. Note: Milkweed seeds need light to germinate so just press firmly into the soil and water, don’t cover with soil. Here is a step by step easy planting guide.
Monarch caterpillars can only eat milkweed.
In addition to seedlings you will want to have larger plants in your garden that will flower through summer and fall. Goldenrod and asters are powerhouse plants for pollinators, be sure to include these in your plantings to provide late season sustenance and garden beauty. Here’s a list of top plants for monarchs from the Xerxes Society.
Zinnias and cosmos are great annual nectar plants as well.
Locally Rosedale Nursery has a good supply of mature milkweed and other natives in season . WCC Native Plant Center will hold its native spring plant sale, dates forthcoming. Online sources such as PollenNation and Prairie Moon Nursery are great resources for native plants. You can preorder now from many online sources.
2) Eliminate Pesticides from your Lawn and Garden
Each year, American homeowners use approximately 70 million pounds of pesticides to maintain their lawns, mostly for aesthetic purposes —-Audubon
We don’t plant for pollinators to then poison them with pesticides. Widespread pesticide use on crops and lawns is decimating pollinator and bird populations and harming our health and that of our pets, especially with the use of neonic pesticides which are prevalent in the landscaping industry. Pesticide use is driving “”The Second Silent Spring”. Did you know that lawns are now the #1 crop in America? Tell your landscaper that you do not want any pesticides applied on your lawn. This includes grass seeds that have been pretreated with pesticides. You can have a healthy, lush, attractive lawn with a diversity of plants without using pesticides. Here’s a guide to get started with lots of organic lawn tips and solutions.
So let’s work together to make this a great New Year for monarchs and ourselves. There’s no reason to feel helpless in the face of bad news headlines about the environment. We can turn things around starting in our own yards. It’s incredibly empowering to realize that taking a couple of simple actions can make a tremendous positive impact. I wish you a happy and healthy New Year and lots of visiting pollinators!