Millions of monarch butterflies start their amazing journey to Mexico every autumn. They travel an incredible 3,000 miles to get there, and sadly most of these butterflies don't survive the trip. Even the smallest of gardens gives these butterflies an opportunity to refill as they come through. This is a wonderful positive thing!
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Check PriceHaving Purple Coneflower and Black-eyed Susan is a good start, but true Monarch Migration Stations know what these amazing creatures need at each time of year. I will show you how to turn any corner into a resource breeding magnet.
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The significance of the corner of your garden
Over the last couple of decades, the loss of habitat for Monarch Butterflies has caused an alarming 80% decline in their population. However, every loss of habitat can be a learning opportunity for butterfly gardens. Additionally, new gardens don’t have to be large in order to be beneficial. Monarch Butterflies are highly skilled in pinpointing areas to feed and are capable of recalling locations where they’ve previously fed.
What scientists call a “Pollinator Pit Stop” is an area with high nutrition value and small space. Think of it like a highway rest stop, but for butterflies!
Native Milkweed: The Foundation We Can’t Compromise On
Common Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) provides nursery and nectar food sources for female monarchs. Monarchs can only lay eggs on milkweed which makes these plants critical for the species. Unlike tropical milkweed, native varieties support migration patterns by naturally dying back in winter.
When you plant your milkweed, make sure to plant them in small groups of 3 to 5. This helps attract roaming Monarch Butterflies, as they will notice them more easily. Try to remember that each mature Milkweed plant can host about 30 to 40 caterpillars during each season!
Wild Bergamot: The Powerhouse of Summer
Lots of flowering plants have a hard time blossoming during the extreme heat of summer, but Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is capable of thriving during the peak summer temperatures. It provides quick food and energy for the Monarchs with its clustered tubular blooms, and the oil in the blossoms a) repels bad insects b) attracts good ones.
Underground runners cause this native member of the mint family to spread and fill more area, making it a larger pollinator magnet. Once established, a single clump can support dozens of feeding butterflies simultaneously.
New England Aster: The Food Source for September Migration
New England Aster, also known as Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, blooms late in the season, coinciding with the time Monarch butterflies begin their migration. Monarchs begin that process by storing fats and energy for the long flight. The purple flowers of the New England Aster contain sugar at a higher concentration than many of the other spring-blooming flowers and aid in providing the energy needed for the tremendous flights that the butterflies will undertake.
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During the peak migration season for monarchs, aster plants bloom with thousands of small flowers that monarchs can use as resting stops. Monarchs use aster plants to rest during their travels from August to October.
Jerusalem Artichoke: The Hidden Sidekick
Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is an interesting choice, but provides excellent fall resources. Their bright yellow flowers draw in monarchs, and their seeds feed the migratory songbirds that travel alongside the monarchs.
The tall stems form natural windbreaks and provide sheltered feeding areas for butterflies when the weather is bad. The edible tubers also make this a twofold addition to any pollinator garden.
Aromatic Aster: The Specialist in Space Saving
For small gardens, Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) has great pollinator value. Reaching only 2-3 feet tall, it produces big clumps of small purple flowers from September into the hard frosts.
Once established, this drought-tolerant native needs no maintenance and performs better in poor soils. It's low and spreading habit is ideal for the edges of gardens and front yard pollinator strips.
Blazing Star: The Nectar Tower
The Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) has vertical spikes of purple flowers that serve as landing pads for Monarch butterlfies. The blazing star has a unique bloom sequence that begins at the top of the spike and moves downward, which extends the flowering period and certefies that the monarchs will have nectar for 6-8 weeks.
Clustered plantings of blazing stars are preferred by monarchs over single specimens. For optimal feeding and visual impact, groups of 5 to 7 should be planted.
Swamp milkweed: A Good Option for The Moisture Loving
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is great for rain gardens or other places with consistently wet soil. It hosts monarchs and is great for wetter conditions. It also has rosy-pink flowers that bloom before common milkweed. This means it extends the season of available host plants.
This species is remarkable because it can survive flooding that would be lethal to competing milkweed species. It is great for constructing habitats for monarchs in difficult locations where other plants cannot survive.
Optimizing Your Migration Station for Ideal Results
Group your plants in clusters of odd numbers rather than planting in straight lines. This will mimic the natural formations that butterflies seek out. Since Jerusalem artichokes and blazing stars are the tallest plants, position them in the back. Put mid-height wild bergamot and milkweed in the center and the shorter asters in front.
Adding a shallow water source is a good idea. One understanding example is a plant saucer with pebbles and fresh water. Monarchs need moisture for drinking and for making mud. Monarchs use the mud for extracting minerals. Remember to change the water every 3-4 days to prevent mosquito breeding.
What is the Best Time to Plant Crops to Get the Best Yield?
Native perennial plants are best planted in the fall rather than the spring. This gives the plants a chance to develop their root systems before going dormant for the winter. When spring comes around, the plants will be that much stronger. This is the reason we are so encouraging for planting to take place between September and October.
Start with the first year with milkweed and wild bergamot and then in the second year add asters and blazing star. This staggers the crowding and also gives something to bloom during the establishment periods.
Achieving perfection is not a prerequisite for creating your pollinator paradise! You can start your pollinator paradise in a small 6-foot by 6-foot space. In fact, a small area like this can help support 100s of monarch migrations! This is, of course, if you do your research to plant the appropriate native species. Migrating butterflies rely on us to create these fuel stops!
