Monarchs big and small

With Monarch butterfly migration underway, it has me thinking of how we are connected. Being part of the life of a Monarch can make us feel connected to the natural world on small, and grand, levels. The little caterpillars are fun to watch while they munch on leaves of the only plant in the world that they will eat, growing bigger every day. If you can catch one transforming into a chrysalis it is a mesmerizing sight as they wiggle back and forth to shed their striped skin, revealing something that looks more like a little green alien than the caterpillar it was moments ago. The chrysalis then hardens into a work of art - a shiny green gem with gold flecks that sparkle in the light. All of this to produce a charismatic butterfly that may just fly across an entire continent, fueling up with nectar from many different plants along the way.

Migration is what makes the Monarch feel vast. The super generation (the individuals that migrate to overwinter in Mexico) rely on the resources of the many different ecosystems they traverse during their flight. The presence of nectar plants on half of the continent is important to their survival. With places that were prairies for centuries being rapidly developed, it's understandable why Monarchs are imperiled.

This leads me to gardening with native plants. It can seem daunting to change anything on a large scale to help the Monarchs. But you can change your yard. You can create a rich habitat to become a refuge for Monarchs AND endless other types of beneficial insects along with turtles, toads, songbirds, and more. It's gardening with a purpose - to make your part of the world a better place for all living things.

Most people know that planting milkweed can help Monarchs. For good nectar plants for your region, check out the recommendations from Xerces Society, a non-profit dedicated to invertebrate conservation:

https://xerces.org/monarchs/monarch-nectar-plant-guides