Milkweed for Monarchs

Milkweed for Monarchs plants critical host food for threatened butterfly.

In 2019 8 public parks along the South Fork of Peachtree Creek saw volunteers planting almost 100 milkweed plants, raised from Georgia native seeds in schools and senior communities.

The idea is a joint project of the South Fork Conservancy, Park Pride volunteers and the Chattahoochee Nature Center, providing the seeds.  Such a success! the milkweed thrived in most sites along the banks of the South Fork of Peachtree Creek. We proudly reported each butterfly sighting that fall. Even more milkweed plants next year, we promised each other. 

Well. It's next year. Coronavirus. No group volunteers.  But the 450 milkweed seedlings don't know about the pandemic. They're ready to grow outside the greenhouse at the Chattahoochee Nature Center.  The monarchs don't know coronavirus either, best we know. A few are already flying through Atlanta, depositing eggs on last year's milkweed, readying to migrate to summer up North.

Conronavirus has changed our plans, but not our outcomes. Several more parks and volunteers are eager to join the program. Instead of last year's one-day wonder of planting, we are socially distancing the milkweed distribution and planting. Volunteers are signing up for special solo times to collect the milkweed. Now we learn the plants and the butterflies already practice separation.

Milkweed mentor Henning Von Schmeling, senior director of horticulture and operations at the Chattahoochee Nature Center says milkweed does best planted in small groups, strung along a creek bank or trail. Big clusters and crowds are not good for butterflies' health.  The butterflies need to fly a specific distance between milkweed blooms for perfect pollination. Who knew? Before we Atlantans knew social distancing, the plant and the butterfly had practiced it for millennia.  

Please join us this year in finding all 450 plants a wonderful home! Check out https://www.facebook.com/MonarchCollaborations/ for more information and send a message if you would like to buy a plant of your own for $5.