There was a missing day in my calendar and I thought it was appropriate to post this photo from last year.I miss Monarchs in my garden.I help facilitate workshops for the Monarch Teacher Network.Our workshops are called teaching and learning with Monarch butterflies.One of the things we tell teachers is "Plant Milkweed and they will come".Children and teachers watch monarchs grow from caterpillars to beautiful butterflies which are sent on their way to Mexico at the end of summer.Monarchs travel many miles to their overwintering grounds in the oyemel forests in the mountains of Michoacan.MILLIONS of Monarchs gather on trees all winter long.It is a magical sight and a magical migration.But pesticides here kill the milkweed that the caterpillars need.And illegal logging kill the oyemel trees that the winter adults need...and so this year there are fewer monarchs.I have not seen ONE.If I had been on 365 last year my whole calendar would have been filled with Monarchs.They are missing..and I am missing them.Plant Milkweed please...and maybe they will come back.
