Each fall, hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies migrate from the United States and Canada to mountains in central Mexico where they wait out the winter until conditions favor a return flight in the spring. The monarch migration is truly one of the world’s greatest natural wonders yet it is threatened by habitat loss at overwintering grounds in Mexico and throughout breeding areas in the United States and Canada. Without milkweeds throughout their spring and summer breeding areas in North America, monarchs would not be able to produce the successive generations that culminate in the migration each fall. Similarly, without nectar from flowers these fall migratory monarch butterflies would be unable to make their long journey to overwintering grounds in Mexico. The need for host plants for larvae and energy sources for adults applies to all monarch and butterfly populations around the world. We wanted to support the monarch population.

We applied for a grant and received 350 swamp milkweed plugs to plant a monarch habitat restoration project at Tanoma through a program called Monarch Watch.

Sunday May 16th we planted several hundred milkweed plants at Tanoma. Thanks to all who came out to help plant the milkweeds. We could not have done it without you all!