Monarch Waystation #8536

About two weeks ago I shared some photos from the Native Pollinator Garden at the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum.  I am pleased to report that this garden is now registered as Monarch Waystation #8536.  It is so new that as of this writing it was not even listed in the Monarch Watch Registry.

This is the fifth Monarch Waystation that I have had a hand in creating.  The native pollinator garden at the Saginaw Chippewa Academy is listed as Waystation #5092.   The garden at Winn Elementary (Casee's Garden) is Waystation #6704.  The garden at the Morey Public School Academy is Waystation #7336.  My gardens at home are Waystation #6591. 

The Monarch Waystation Program is operated by Monarch Watch,  which is based out of the University of Kansas.  The goal of the program is to provide habitat for Monarch Butterflies (and other pollinators) throughout their life cycle and to suitable stopping points for them during their annual migrations across North America.  To be certified as a Monarch Waystation, a garden or other property must provide plants that serve as larval hosts and nectar sources.  

  

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpillars feed only on plants in the Milkweed family.  The garden at the Discovery Museum currently has two species of Milkweed:  Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) and Common Milkweed (A. syriaca).  For nectar plants, a variety of species can be planted - I recommend species like Asters and Goldenrods that are in bloom during the Monarchs' fall migration period as well as other species that bloom throughout the growing season.