Building Habitats for Monarch Butterflies
Monarch Butterflies have a fascinating story.
Their life cycle is similar to most other insects, what is slightly different is that they have several generations as they move further north each season. The last generation in the northern edge of the United States will migrate in great numbers to several remote groves of trees in Mexico. These groves create the perfect microclimate for the butterflies to overwinter. The male and female butterflies are have different patterns! See link here for those pictures.
Why is this important?
What's the importance of monarch butterflies to our ecosystem? Monarchs by themselves are fascinating and beautiful - but the real importance lies in the awareness. The more species of pollinators like butterflies, bees, birds, and mammals that we cultivate in our hearts then there is more awareness of the natural world for everyone. Let's talk to our friends and neighbors about the importance of monarchs so we can further enjoy these beautiful insects and have an ongoing conversation about habitat conservation - wild fields, meadows, and our backyard gardens! Please remember when planning to have backyard habitat for butterflies do not use any pesticides (this includes herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides!).
Let's cultivate monarch habitat in our yards!
Monarch butterflies need flower nectar and milkweed (asclepia spp.) to survive. Lots of their natural habitat has been destroyed and gardeners can help! To make the perfect monarch butterfly habitat you need summer blooming flowers like: liatris (blazing star), echinacea (purple coneflower), agastache (hyssops), allium (late blooming ornamental onions), echinops (globe thistle), monarda (bee balm), and actea (late blooming snake roots) for their food source and asclepias or milkweed for their caterpillars to eat. My favorite garden milkweed stays contained in clumps and reseeds nicely with bright orange flowers about 3 feet tall in late summer (pairs nicely with liatris) is asclepia tuberosa. It likes dry, nutrient deficient soils. For a wet spot in the garden try marsh milkweed or asclepia incarnata. This flower is taller (up to 4 feet) and purple/pink. All of these plants are beautiful additions to the garden so why not try a few and see if you get some monarchs?
Their life cycle is similar to most other insects, what is slightly different is that they have several generations as they move further north each season. The last generation in the northern edge of the United States will migrate in great numbers to several remote groves of trees in Mexico. These groves create the perfect microclimate for the butterflies to overwinter. The male and female butterflies are have different patterns! See link here for those pictures.
Why is this important?
What's the importance of monarch butterflies to our ecosystem? Monarchs by themselves are fascinating and beautiful - but the real importance lies in the awareness. The more species of pollinators like butterflies, bees, birds, and mammals that we cultivate in our hearts then there is more awareness of the natural world for everyone. Let's talk to our friends and neighbors about the importance of monarchs so we can further enjoy these beautiful insects and have an ongoing conversation about habitat conservation - wild fields, meadows, and our backyard gardens! Please remember when planning to have backyard habitat for butterflies do not use any pesticides (this includes herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides!).
Let's cultivate monarch habitat in our yards!
Monarch butterflies need flower nectar and milkweed (asclepia spp.) to survive. Lots of their natural habitat has been destroyed and gardeners can help! To make the perfect monarch butterfly habitat you need summer blooming flowers like: liatris (blazing star), echinacea (purple coneflower), agastache (hyssops), allium (late blooming ornamental onions), echinops (globe thistle), monarda (bee balm), and actea (late blooming snake roots) for their food source and asclepias or milkweed for their caterpillars to eat. My favorite garden milkweed stays contained in clumps and reseeds nicely with bright orange flowers about 3 feet tall in late summer (pairs nicely with liatris) is asclepia tuberosa. It likes dry, nutrient deficient soils. For a wet spot in the garden try marsh milkweed or asclepia incarnata. This flower is taller (up to 4 feet) and purple/pink. All of these plants are beautiful additions to the garden so why not try a few and see if you get some monarchs?
Pictured below are monarchs, swallowtails, painted ladies, fritillary butterflies, and hawk moths on liatris, echinops, aslepia, actea, rudbekia, echinacea, lilac, salvia, and beauty bush flowers.
Cadreact Garden & Landscaping. Erika Cadreact. 603-667-3312. [email protected]. PO Box 313 Pike NH 03780