I do see Monarch butterflies in my yard and I’m thrilled at each sighting because the Monarch butterfly population has been trending downward for 30 years. From MonarchConservation.org:
Insect populations are notorious for their annual fluctuations, but this most recent (winter 2023-2024) estimate is concerning. It is the second lowest ever reported; only the winter of 2013-2014 was lower (0.67 ha). Read more here.
Here’s what we can do to help out here in Fallbrook:
Don’t use chemicals in your yard. Pesticides and sprays harm our butterflies. Pull out weeds or weed whack them. Leave bugs alone — the birds will eat them and things will come back into balance.
Plant native milkweed next fall. You can get milkweed from local native plant stores. In my own yard, I planted milkweed four or five years ago. It’s now naturalizing and it’s growing large plants and spreading — it is a weed after all. But I let it go wherever it appears because I do love the butterflies. Here’s the patch that attracted a lone Monarch butterfly this morning:
