Why Are Monarchs So Special?
Monarch butterflies are famous for their bright orange and black wings. Every year, millions of them take an amazing long-distance journey across North America! Along the way, they help flowers, fruits, and trees grow by moving pollen from blossom to blossom. When monarchs are healthy, it means our gardens and planet are doing great too.
Monarchs need our help!
Sadly, the number of monarch butterflies has dropped a lot over the past few decades because they are losing their natural homes.
What do baby monarchs eat? Monarch caterpillars are extra picky. They only eat leaves from the Milkweed plant!
Milkweed also gives caterpillars a special protective superpower: it tastes yucky to birds, keeping them safe from predators!
Without milkweed, monarch caterpillars cannot grow into butterflies.
“The truth is that we are facing a crisis of biodiversity. The loss of biodiversity is happening at an unprecedented rate.”
— David Attenborough
Fueling Their Big Journey
While caterpillars need milkweed leaves, grown-up butterflies need yummy flower nectar for energy to fly thousands of miles! You can turn your yard or balcony into a cozy butterfly cafe with these colorful plants:
- Spring & Summer: Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susans, and Salvia
- Autumn: Bright yellow Goldenrod and purple Asters
You Can Be a Monarch Hero!
You don’t need a big farm to help! Even planting a few milkweed seeds or colorful flowers in a pot on a balcony creates a vital stopping place for traveling monarchs. Ask an adult to help you plant native flowers and skip garden sprays so our tiny butterfly friends stay safe and strong!
