Milkweed & Monarchs
In the summer of 2021, a remarkable discovery was made in the Gardens when a female monarch butterfly was spotted laying eggs on a single milkweed plant. At that time, only one milkweed plant existed in the Gardens. Recognizing the critical importance of milkweed for the survival of endangered monarch butterflies, we took action. That fall, we began collecting seeds from that same plant, Asclepias incarnata.
Conservation Efforts
Since then, we have cold stratified and nurtured the seeds in our greenhouses during the spring months, before planting them outside in the gardens. This effort has yielded remarkable results. We are delighted to report we now observe numerous monarch caterpillars and up to three butterflies at a time flourishing within the urban Gardens.
This transformation is particularly significant given that monarchs are typically found in fields abundant with milkweed, rather than in the heart of a bustling city. We are proud to contribute to the conservation of this iconic species.
