Create a Monarch Waystation
My yard is a certified Monarch Waystation #581, a program of Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas. They estimate that 10,000 of these waystations are needed to try to compensate for the habitat lost (especially milkweed) due to urban sprawl, use of pesticide-resistant crops (which promotes pesticide use on crops since the crops don't die -only "weeds" like milkweed), and other factors. Monarch Watch has more detailed information available, but basically a Monarch Waystation consists of providing a large enough area of 1) milkweeds, 2) nectar plants, and 3) no pesticides.
IMPORTANT: The University of Kansas information seems to make no distinction between native plants and non-native plants. However, Native Plants are BEST for native wildlife! In particular, they list buddleia, sometimes known as butterfly bush, (not to be confused with the milkweed called butterflyweed), which has been recognized as invasive in some neighboring states. I had planted this in the past, but yanked it out when I learned about this problem, but even years later, I've noticed it coming up from seed even in the shade. There are LOTS of better native choices for nectar plants.
Help protect Monarchs in their winter home. Donate to the Michoacan Reforestation Fund. This helps not only the butterflies, but also the indigenous people. For those of us like myself who have more than enough of everything we truly need, this (or other similar organizations) makes the perfect gift to suggest that people give you for birthdays or other holidays. How could another sweater etc. be as good as knowing that you've helped the Monarch survive for the enjoyment of future generations? For more info…
Here's my Monarch Waystation sign amidst swamp milkweed.
The bumper sticker says it all! "Monarch butterflies depend on milkweed for survival." The larvae eat only milkweed. The good news is that there are many different kinds of native milkweed, and many are attractive, gardenworthy plants. Some other photos of milkweed are on the nectar page since milkweeds are great nectar plants, too.
Here's one of my gardens along the road. It has a lot of nectar plants AND MILKWEEDS (the pink flowering plants).
You can see a monarch getting nectar from the swamp milkweed on the right, but the joe-pye weed in the back was also a favorite nectar plant.
Here's a common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) a monarch is exploring. This is a favorite larval host plant. It hasn't gone out of bounds in my yard. I've kept it in one spot.
Here's a patch of swamp milkweed along with some other nectar plants. The signs you see are my "Is a perfect lawn worth the risk?" no pesticides signs. After all, monarchs are "only" insects, and insecticides kill insects. (My signs are available for downloading.)
Here's the "back" side of the flower garden along the road. The path isn't really visible from the road, so it looks like there are just plants. It's full of swamp milkweeds and other native nectar plants, bushes, and grasses.
Fall nectar is important. Here you see some monarchs nectaring on various kinds of goldenrod. I have lots of different native goldenrods. Some of my favorites are stiff goldenrod, the Fireworks cultivar, and showy goldenrod, but they're all really nice plants (and don't cause allergies). They're good nectar plants for lots of insects (which is a good thing!)
