Summary:
The migration patterns of Monarch Butterflies continue to be a source of wonder to researchers, scientists, and amateur observers after more than 100 years of study. Anyone with a spade, some flower seeds, and a warm place in their heart for these beautiful creatures that are slowly losing their summer campgrounds can become a part of the fascinating life cycle of the small yet majestic Monarch.

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Even more intriguing is that every year these swarms that resemble a vivid orange flying carpet head to exactly the same place — for example, the same mountain hillside in Mexico or the same fir grove in California. Add to that the fact that not even one of the millions of butterflies has ever made the journey before, and the migration becomes astonishing, leaving many researchers scratching their heads with little more than theories.

If you could help these magical insects, and at the same time bring color, life, and wonder to your garden, how could you resist? They offer much to learn about butterfly behavior as they go through their life cycle. Monarch butterflies are facing a loss of habitat, caused in large part by pesticides, urban sprawl, and logging. Creating a Monarch sanctuary is easy, because they are very low-maintenance guests. If you create a refuge in your yard, you may be rewarded with return visits by your fluttery friends season after season.

Monarchs need a summer home for two simple reasons: to lay eggs and to obtain nourishment. Their preferred nursery is a milkweed plant. The female lays her eggs on the underside of the leaf. When the caterpillar emerges it makes the milkweed leaf its first real meal. Then, after the caterpillar’s pupa stage, the mature Monarch appears. The butterfly owes its life to that milkweed plant in more ways than one: Not only did it serve as host to the eggs but the nourishment it provided throughout the butterfly’s earliest life stages is poisonous to potential predators.

The brand new Monarch is hungry and in search of nectar. As it searches for food, it will see large splashes of color more easily than small individual flowers. Monarch Butterflies are particularly attracted to red, orange, yellow, purple, and pink. When you create your garden, plant short types in the front row and tall ones in back, and group them by species and color. This is where you and the Monarch can benefit each other. It loves to stick its proboscis — a tongue-like “straw” — into the blossoms of zinnias, cosmos, impatiens, marigolds, alyssum, milkweed, daisy, phlox, purple coneflower, monarda, Joe-Pye weed, yarrow, Black-Eyed Susan, azalea, lilac, and thistle blossoms and draw on their nourishing nectar. At the same time, the plant’s pollen sticks to its feet, and when it flies to another similar plant, it does the work of pollinating it for you. It’s a win-win.

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