The Monarch Butterfly is Endangered – What Can We Do?

On July 21, 2022, the majestic monarch butterfly was declared an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. While there have been worldwide efforts to protect the monarch butterfly and restore its habitats, the population has continued to decline since the 1990’s. Wildfires, climate change, pesticides, and loss of prairies and forests have nearly taken this charismatic insect off the map. We need legislation and policy changes immediately if we hope to preserve monarch butterflies and fellow pollinators. In the meantime, we have the power to enact change right in our own yards.
Reimagining our Landscapes
Do you recall when native plants were considered weedy, messy, and unattractive? Oh, how the times have changed! Now, native gardens are front and center in St. Louis. Unique plants like goldenrod, asters, liatris, and rattlesnake master are dappled amongst milkweeds and tall grasses. These plantings mimic prairies and waystations that butterflies require during migration for rest and reproduction. Furthermore, the emphasis on a well-manicured lawn is being redirected to valuing gardens, hardscapes, and trees. This minimizes lawn equipment pollution and the overabundant use of turf fertilizer and herbicides that can harm our essential pollinators.
But a shift in perspective like this did not happen overnight. Thanks to the efforts of numerous organizations in our area, the St. Louis gardening culture has become diverse, colorful, and rich with educational resources. If you would like to join the movement to protect the monarch butterflies, you can contact your representatives to advocate for legislation supporting environmental conservation efforts. As for your own yard, even a few plants can have a ripple effect.
Resources For Your Butterfly Garden
Grow Native www.grownative.org
Missouri Botanical Garden www.missouribotanicalgarden.org
Wild Ones https://wildones.org
Missouri Prairie Foundation https://moprairie.org
University of Missouri Extension https://extension.missouri.edu/
Missouri Department of Conservation https://mdc.mo.gov/your-property/
The St. Louis Butterfly Project – Milkweeds for Monarchs https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/monarchs/index.cfm
Many garden centers boast vast selections of milkweed and nectar plants specifically targeted to monarch preferences. Also, you can get some inspiration from native plantings around town at the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Public libraries, several college campuses, the Shaw Nature Reserve, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, and of course, the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Here’s to hopeful and helpful gardening!
We were very pleased with the service and particularly the knowledge & professionalism of your staff. We would certainly recommend you.
We are very pleased with the plantings suggested by and picked out by Mike. The men arrived on time to plant the boxwood and witch hazel tree; dug out the stump and cleaned up. They were pleasant and helpful – we couldn’t have asked for a better team.
We were very pleased and impressed with Dan and his team. We love our new trees and garden.
Thank you so much for all the information you provide – the watering information, the emails and the flier. I read it all and have learned so much. My magnolia trees look surprisingly healthy considering the way they looked when I first called.
Kevin Seger provided expert advice and recommendations about tree maintenance and removal. He listened to my needs and provided a thorough and affordable proposal. On the day of the job, I was very impressed with crew leader, Dave and his team (Felix & Adam). They were professional, efficient, hard-working and very neat about clean-up.
An outstanding job on the four trees and clean-up after the work and removal. We would be happy to recommend your services to everyone – the best tree service we ever have had here in St. Louis.
Kevin was able to come out the same day I called and a crew was out the next day! Great prompt service. I was not at home when the work was done but results show they did a fine job.
Everyone came through as usual when I needed the crew to come back & take out the balance of the fire blight. They did not have a bucket the first time and were so nice and professional about coming back again.
Thank you again for responding to our urgent need after the storm took down our 2 trees & deposited them across our driveway. Your crew, as always, did a fabulous job. Professional, courteous & it is a pleasure doing business with your company.
We appreciate your knowledge and professionalism. Your employees are prompt and courteous and willing to do whatever needs to be done to complete the project. Cleanup was great.