By Cory Sekine-Pettite
According to the latest data from the Western Monarch Count (a service of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation), butterfly populations across the United States have declined 22 percent over the past two decades. Of particular concern is the decline of the Monarch Butterfly population, which has dropped 96 percent from just one year ago. Scientists say the main factors driving this demise are climate change, habitat loss, and pesticide use. While there are large-scale issues that must be addressed in order to revive all pollinating insect species (butterflies, bees, beetles, etc.), there are small changes that home gardeners can implement that will make a difference.
Seed producer American Meadows says planting milkweed, nectar-rich wildflowers, and pesticide-free pollinator gardens can provide critical refuge for these iconic butterflies. The company is empowering gardeners with expert guidance, pre-planned pollinator gardens, and wildflower seed mixes to turn backyards into butterfly havens. They say even small-scale plantings can help fuel monarchs on their migration. A garden with just 10 milkweed plants and a mix of spring-to-fall blooming nectar flowers can provide life-saving resources. Planting wildflowers along roadsides, in community spaces, or in containers on patios helps rebuild the migratory corridor that monarchs desperately need.
As you may know, pollinators play a vital role in food production and flower lifecycles. American Meadows says three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce. That’s one out of every three bites of food you eat. Agricultural crops like coffee, cocoa, fruits, vegetables and nuts rely heavily on pollinators and are especially at risk. (Seriously, who wants to live in a world without coffee?) Experts emphasize that reversing this trend will require widespread habitat restoration and a shift toward pollinator-friendly practices.
Among American Meadows’ pollinator-friendly seed mixes is the Monarch Highway Native Wildflower Seed Mix, which you can learn more about at americanmeadows.com. If you’re already a gardener or just want to help our various pollinating species — including the Monarch Butterfly — by planting a container or two of flowers, I encourage you to check out this seed mix or find a seed mix of your choice at a local shop. We ALL need a healthy population of pollinators!
