Milkweed and Monarchs: Making Your Garden a Habitat

Monarch butterflies, the once-plentiful beauties of yard and field, have suffered habitat loss so great that their numbers in recent years have dwindled to 10% of their peak population. They are called the ‘poster child’ for pollinator habitat protection, owing to their beauty and the remarkable feat of their annual migration to Mexico and back. 

Protecting monarch butterflies leads us to a wider awareness of the fragility of insect populations, the steady assault on their numbers through the indiscriminate use of pesticides, and the vital role that diverse native species play in keeping our planet healthy.

Learn about how to attract a bevy of egg-laying monarchs to your garden, how to raise the eggs into hungry monarch caterpillars, and finally, healthy adult monarch butterflies, as well as some tips on how to grow a variety of different milkweed species to help them thrive.

About the Presenter

Alice Ely is a UConn Advanced Master Gardener and Master Composter, Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist, creator of multiple public and private monarch waystations in Fairfield County, and "Mother" of monarchs. She raises these marvelous butterflies as a hobby and outreach tool. She knows the sense of wonder that these remarkable creatures inspire. Learning to protect them helps teach the importance of species diversity, the dangers of widespread pesticide/herbicide use, and the critical role our own backyards play in saving the planet.  

Learn more about Alice at her website.