How pollinator gardens can restore population of endangered Monarchs

Master’s Garden

Bill Luedecke & Martelle Luedecke Monarch butterflies are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, where they are now classified as endangered.

Texas is a large portion of the Monarch’s migration highway. We can help restore our beautiful hard working pollinator friends. How you may ask?

Monarchs will travel through latitudes 29-31 (Burnet 30.7582° N, Marble Falls 30.5782° N) October 4-22, 2022.

For the fall arrival we can help by preparing to provide nectar for their long journey, roost for a rest, and water always. Plants that can provide energy fuel for their fall return flight to Southwestern Mexico and the comfort of the oyamel fir trees are: Autumn Sage, Havana snakeroot (Thoroughwort), Frostweed, Cowpen Daisy, Aromatic aster, Drummond’s aster (Texas aster), Willowleaf aster (Tall aster), Late purple aster (Spread-leaf aster), White heath aster. Plants for larger areas, according to Monarchwatch.org are: Texas barometer bush (Cenizo), Common buttonbush (shrub), Maximillian sunflower.

Monarchs travel during the day and rest/roost at night. You may look out your door early one morning and see a tree filled with thousands of monarchs perhaps close to a field or cluster of Maximillian sunflowers.

Shhhh … they have a long trip, let them sleep in.

In the spring when the Monarchs return, more help will be needed. Unfortunately, helping to save the Monarchs from extinction is not an overnight solution.

Therefore we reached out to Kristin Rodgers, who has helped and established native pollinator gardens in Burnet and surrounding counties.

Pollinator Gardens

Monarch butterflies, like so many other pollinators worldwide, are in drastic decline for many reasons. Pesticides, disease, and habitat loss are largely to blame.

This little butterfly that spreads pollen as it feeds on the nectar of wildflowers along its stunning 3,000-mile migration across North America each year needs our help.

And pollinator gardens are one vital way we can each do our part to help not just the Monarch, but all pollinators.

The good news? Anyone can help and it doesn’t take much money, time, or effort.

Your pollinator garden can be as simple or dynamic as you want.

Start by finding a suitable location that will provide food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices. Bring in some fresh soil, maybe a little compost to kick it up a notch, and finish up with a hearty native Texan pollinator seed mix, and some water.

And voila! If you plant it, they will come. We started seeing butterflies, moths, and various other insects almost immediately once the flowers began to bloom.

Then we saw the lizards and birds. So many shapes, sizes, and colors.

The diversity we attracted with our little start inspired us to do more. There are many other native plants that can be added to your pollinator gardens, and the more diversity the more insects and other animals that will want to call it home.

But there is nothing wrong with starting small. Did you know that just one oak tree can support over 500 species of moths and butterflies and provides shelter, cover, and places to raise young for so many other species?

By committing to create much needed native habitat for the monarch butterfly and other pollinators, we can all make a small difference at home and in our communities. And this small difference adds up! You may email Kristin @trodgers25@yahoo.com for further assistance.

Remember the True Master Gardener: Jesus said, “I am the vine; my Father is the Gardener.” John 15:1 Contact Martelle Luedecke (512) 769-3179 at luedeckephotography@gmail.com or Bill at (512) 577-1463 or email bill@texasland. net