As part of Butterfly Tent Safari programming at my work, all participants received a free swamp milkweed plant (Asclepias incarnata). This helped make sure the program went beyond entertainment and education to actual conservation stewardship to create critical habitat for Monarchs and other pollinators. The initial endeavor was completed with the help of Bhrugu as his Eagle Scout Project. I now incorporate it into a Master Gardener Adult Senior Horticulture class on pollinators in January where we prep the milk jugs to cold stratify and germinate about ten seeds per container. The containers are left outside with the caps off in partial sun/shade for the seeds to cold stratify over the winter and then germinate in the spring. Then in June my High School Senior Service Interns carefully transplant the germinated seedlings into 1/2 gallon pots of soil. The milkweed babies were watered frequently and grew around 12inches by July when they are given out freely to all visitors with planting instructions (some plants already had caterpillars on them!).

One Monarch can eat about 20 leaves so it’s best to plant a few and expect them to grow 4-5ft tall with multiple stems the following year. The plants mature in August & September, blooming profusely and with lush foliage.

The project turns environmental education into action and makes a difference for Monarchs and other pollinators. It’s not enough to love butterflies, wear butterfly jewelry, t-shirts and tattoos. We need to take action and provide or protect critical habitat!

David Alexander is a professional outdoor guide and conservation biologist.  He enjoys making nature more accessible to people and wildlife.  You can purchase his book, “Buzz Into Action, The Insect Curriculum for Grades K-4” here and follow him at www.natureintoaction.com