a butterfly kiss
in bright blue and sunshine
a breathtaking beauty
soon to be extinct
in twenty years
Monarch butterflies are in danger — so much so that they may soon be officially endangered. Due to deforestation, climate change and associated habitat loss, monarch populations are in sharp decline, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to decide whether to add the monarch to the endangered species list later this year.
This is not good news for the planet. Sure, monarch butterflies are nice to look at, but they are also important pollinators as well as a food source for other birds and insects. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help reverse the population’s downward spiral.
Build a butterfly garden
If you have outdoor space that gets at least some direct sun, plant a small pollinator garden with flowers that attract butterflies as well as bees, moths and other insects.
You’ll definitely want to include milkweed, which is the only plant that monarch caterpillars eat. Swamp milkweed is the best bet, but other species of milkweed will do. From there, consider including a variety of flowers and plants that will be easy for you to care for (native to your area) as well as some that will thrive across changing seasons.
The University of Illinois Extension has a handy list of plants to get you started, and the Fish and Wildlife Service has a basic guide to pollinator gardens.
And if you don’t have a yard, a planter or pot on your balcony will work just fine.
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the monarch
ballet steps
between the petals
the flowers swoon smile
and say thank you
FOR SHERRY
another little poem to brighten the mood after hearing such sad news of the Monarch butterfly
sherry loves dogs
a kind friend decided
to surprise her
with an online gift
How I loved this post, more and more as I went along. Thank you for brightening my day, after the sad news of the butterflies. I love the idea of butterfly gardens. I am reduced to planting in pots now, but will plant some milkweed for sure. I LOVE the dog photo (of course), and got a huge kick out of the German shepherd. LOL. With my luck, that's the kind who'd show up at my door. Cackle.
ReplyDeleteLOL....Thought you'd relate to this one...can hear you hearty Canadian cackle from across the ocean
ReplyDeleteWe need to rewild our manicured lawns, so not only butterflies, but bees and all kinds of endangered species can have hope for survival.
ReplyDeleteIt should be unthinkable that these butterflies could disappear!
ReplyDeleteLOL for the germam shepherd
ReplyDeleteMuch💛love
Oh lovely the ballet of the monarch. So sad to read that they are getting extinct. We plant swan plants once in a while, which get eaten completely by the caterpillars Maybe its the same as milkweed
ReplyDeleteOH I am inspired to plant a butterfly garden this weekend. Finally Spring is cooperating. Carl and I live in a row of eleven townhomes, but we have the perfect large planter and a ton of sunshine on our deck! Cheers.
ReplyDeleteSo excited, I Googled Milkweed and Central Oregon. Lo and behold the Deschutes Land Trust is sending me seeds ~ FREE!
ReplyDeleteI'm checking on milkweed now.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. We can all do our bit. I don't have milkweed in my balcony garden, but I'm growing daisies, black-eyed susans, coneflowers, and 3 pots of mixed wildflowers. And you know what? I'm going to start some milkweed, too--thank you for the nudge.
ReplyDeleteI love the lightness of your voice. :-) The handful of monarchs passing through our yard like the Jupiter’s beard. I’ve let it take over just for them.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable to think of Monarch butterflies disappearing! And good to know there are ways we can encourage them. Enjoyed your whole post.
ReplyDeleteMonarch butterflies are beautiful, and essential. It's hard to think that this butterfly can go extinct, but just remember the passenger pigeon. It's heartening to know that people are trying to save this species.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of starting butterfly gardens if one can! The impact on biodiversity because of human actions is seriously tragic. Glad you brought this up.
ReplyDeleteI have several milkweeds blooming in my garden. Welcome, butterflies!
ReplyDelete