Milkweed and monarchs
Published 2:58 pm Tuesday, November 7, 2017
- Members of the Nora Lancaster Garden Club observe Monarch butterflies and learn about the impact of milkweed plants from Master Naturalist JoAnne Jones. Pictured are, from left, Frances Pairet, Jane Clark, Leader- Barbara Smith, Guest Speaker JoAnne Jones and Hostess Jane Crute.
The Nora Lancaster Garden Club program for September was “Right Under My Nose: Milkweed and Monarchs” presented by JoAnne Jones, Master Naturalist who has a lifelong love of the outdoors and all that is related to nature.
She is a friend of Bear Creek Lake State Park, retired from 25 years of teaching in Buckingham County and operated a hunter/equitation equestrian facility over a 20-year period.
Jones suggests everyone become aware of nature that is right before their eyes or right under their nose. She has found 450 different species of insects on the milkweed plant- the only supporting habitat and food source for Monarchs.
Over the years there have been problems with pesticides, GMO and people killing the milkweed- their nesting spot.
She reviewed the importance of helping the Monarchs survive their long migration from Mexico through North America by helping maintain the milkweeds. By providing Waystations people can create, conserve and protect the Monarch habitats. Gathered from a local Waystation, Garden Club members were able to observe each stage of the Monarch cycle: eggs, 3-5 days, chrysalis, 8-13 days, larva, 9-14 days and adult butterfly, 6-9 months for the migrating Monarch.
There are other Monarchs that live 2-6 weeks in the summer that do not migrate.
Websites that may further educate are www.MonarchWatch.org and
www.Monarchjointventure.org and Jones recommended a book: “Bring Nature Home” by Doug Tallamy.
Jones also suggests planting a butterfly garden and keeping flowers available all season for all butterflies such as coreopsis in the spring through asters in the fall. Butterfly Weed is another flower that attracts numerous butterflies.
It is best to plant groups of particular flowers instead of scattering them around the garden.
Maybe people can help by providing a food source for butterflies or a Waystation for the Monarchs near their homes and enjoy the beauty.
The Exhibit Awards this month were: Tricia Crute-1 blue, Rebecca Kelly- 1 red, Vicki Morris-1 blue, Judy O›Steen- 1 blue, Brenda Puryear- 1 red, Barbara Smith- 1 red, Helen Smith- 1 blue.
The Horticulture Awards were: Jane Clark- 2 blue, 2 red, Tricia Crute-1 blue, Rebecca Kelly- 1 blue, 2 red, Vicki Morris-1 blue, Judy O›Steen- 1 blue, Brenda Puryear- 4 blue, Barbara Smith- 2 blue, 1 red.
