Here are some of the exciting things going on
in Eastern Iowa to benefit Monarch Butterflies
Today an official Monarch Waystation was established in Weed Park in Muscatine by Christine S. and Candi W. who are MEI members. They planted butterfly weed, whorled milkweed, tropical and balloon milkweed and tall garden phlox for starters!
Muscatine is also in the process of establishing a 16 acre pollinator park! "The park, said David Cooney of the Muscatine Pollinator Project (and also a members of MEI), will be a place where people can walk or ride, enjoying the flowers and wildlife—and there will be a lot of wildlife to enjoy. ... We’re looking at monarchs, we’re looking at honey bees, we’re looking at native bees, we’re looking at hummingbirds. .... We’re also going to do a pole that says, ‘Its 1,903 miles to Mexico,’ where the monarchs have to fly,” he said. Read the article from the May 22, 2017 Muscatine Journal - "A haven for people and pollinators".
CEDAR RAPIDS / LINN COUNTY
In Cedar Rapids an 18-acre pollinator zone will be planted on top of the old landfill locally known as "Mount Trashmore", thanks to a grant from Monarch Watch!
Last year the Thousand Acre Plan was unveiled, in which the city of Cedar Rapids, Linn County and other local entities committed to convert underused public property into habitat for monarchs and other pollinating insects. A driving force behind this is the Monarch Research Project and their Monarch Zones project.
IOWA CITY
IC Monarchs The City of Iowa City, along with private citizens and other organizations, have been actively planting milkweed and other important nectar plants in order to better support the Monarch butterfly. Monarch Waystations are located at Wetherby Park, Hickory Hill Park, Hunter's Run, and at the Eastside Recycling Center. In addition, Iowa City Mayor Jim Throgmorton signed the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge in 2016 to help raise awareness about declining Monarch populations. This pledge indicates a commitment from the City to help rehabilitate the Monarch population.
STATEWIDE
The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium is continuing its research and efforts to increase habitat for monarchs butterflies and other pollinators state-wide.
In addition there are many county parks and county conservation programs in Iowa focusing on the plight of the monarch butterfly, and creating more suitable habitat. There are just too many projects to share here.
We are so happy the the word has spread and the momentum is picking up! Iowa is right smack-dab in the middle of the main monarch butterfly breeding area, and with help from us all, maybe they can start to make a comeback.
Click the photo to enlarge it.
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