The situation for Monarchs is so critical that one of the things I can do about it is to see that as much milkweed as possible is planted and growing and available when the Monarchs come through our area on their journey north and to have mature milkweed and nectaring plants available for their mass migration trip back to Mexico to winter over. Thats why I'm excited to be ordering so many Milkweed plants (will mature sooner than seed sown now) from North Creek Nursery (They do not treat their plants-organic) as I can and personally counting on each to plant as many as possible in our yardens! At the Spring Swap i hope to have a minimum package of 3 incarnatea, 3 tuberosa and 3 currasavaca for each of you to commit to plant.
I've started the ball rolling by ordering the plants and sourcing some seed donations for milkweed and nectar plants especially fall bloomers
Many of my ideas are stated nicely in the link below which I quote
http://www.monarchbutterflygarden.net/10-ways-attract-more-monarchs-2014/
10 Ways to Bring Home More Butterflies
If you’d like to put your monarch-saving efforts to better use, here are 10 ways to positively impact monarch butterflies in 2014 and beyond:
1. Plant native milkweed
Native milkweed is the cornerstone of a successful monarch butterfly garden. Native plants usually attract more local wildlife than their less familiar counterparts. They also are likelier to thrive without as much assistance from you.
2. Plant non-invasive exotic/annual milkweed
Many of the more popular non-native milkweeds are only perennials for warmer climates. This means they will require more tending than the natives. However, the rewards can be astonishing if you accept this milkweed challenge. We have about 10 milkweed varieties (both native and non-native) in our yard and they all get used at various times during the season.
The benefits of adding a non-native milkweed like asclepias curassavica, are that it blooms all summer and the leaves stay viable until first frost. This means you’re less likely to have milkweed emergencies!
Find both native and non-native milkweed for the 2014 garden season by clicking here
3. Plant native nectar flowers
Native nectar flowers usually attract a wider variety of pollinators but this is not always the case. Like native milkweed, they require less care and are more reliable from season to season.
4. Plant non-invasive exotic/annual nectar flowers
Some of the monarchs’ favorite nectar flowers are not native to North America. Butterfly bush, Mexican sunflowers, Verbena bonariensis, and zinnias are huge draws for monarchs, hummingbirds, and countless other pollinators across much of the US and parts of Canada.
Many tropicals/annuals require deadheading for best results, but they are well worth the effort if you want serious butterfly garden results.
Find both native and non-native nectar plants for the 2014 garden season by clicking here
5. Buy plants from nurseries that have their own greenhouses and can guarantee no pesticides have been sprayed on your plants. At this point in time, buying plants from big box stores is a gamble.
6. Don’t limit yourself to local resources. There are lots of reputable nurseries that will have exactly what you’re looking for online. Again, research to find out if they grow organically.
We buy most of our plants at local plant sales or nurseries. However, when local resources can’t provide you with exactly what you want, someone online usually can. Check out these milkweed seed resources. Could you find all those species at your local nursery?
7. Start seeds. This insures no pesticides have been used to grow your plants. Seeds can be sowed directly in fall, winter, or spring, depending on the particular plant. Others can be winter sowed or started indoors.
8. Raise the Migration!
Raise the Migration- Learn how to raise and release monarch migration butterflies
In late August and September, I share tips about raising monarchs to release for the monarch migration. Sign up to receive my free Butterfly Garden Tips and you’ll also receive free raising tips throughout the season. SIGN UP HERE
9. Inspire others to get Involved- Do you have extra garden seeds or plants? Do you have too many caterpillars to raise by yourself? See if your neighbors or local schools might be interested in giving the monarchs a helping hand.
10. What if you’re still not seeing any monarchs?- Drastic times call for thinking out-of-the-garden. Last fall, I ordered some monarch eggs from The Butterfly Lady. I was pleased to find the eggs securely packed upon arrival and I raised five healthy monarchs from her butterfly farm. I’d much rather entice monarchs by growing a magnificent milkweed patch, but butterfly farms are always an option if the monarchs are scarce again in 2014.
