Enjoy & aid monarch butterflies this summer
Are you seeing monarch butterflies where you live? 2020’s second generation of these iconic butterflies is now gracing our Wisconsin gardens and grasslands.
These butterflies and their progeny each live about a month before the 4th “Supergeneration” emerges in August, fuels up and flies 1,700 miles to Mexico to overwinter. They start returning in late winter and lay their eggs in Texas and other southern states. Typically this generation, and sometimes the next, reach Wisconsin. (See this cool Journey North graphic for more on the monarch generations.)
We can help monarchs across all their life stages and generations. Here are a few ways to help so monarchs can continue to be part of the wonder of nature.
It’s not too late to plant native wildflowers to aid monarchs
Native garden stores are still selling native milkweed and nectar plant seedlings that are easy to add to a garden or container on your balcony. Try late blooming plants like showy blazing star or goldenrod, New England aster or sweet black-eyed Susan.
Find plant lists, a list of Wisconsin Native Plant Nurseries, and more resources on the Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative website habitat pages.
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Join June 20 webinar on monitoring monarchs
Learn about monarch biology, monitoring and data entry protocols to help monitor monarchs in your community. This virtual training by the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, which is jointly coordinated by the Monarch Joint Venture and UW-Madison Arboretum, runs 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Registration closes end of day June 18.
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