Soon, the majestic monarch butterfly will make its annual trip from North America down to Mexico.
Much like humans on a roadtrip, stops for fuel are necessary along the way. And while nature provides much of that on its own, others are stepping in to provide a pollinator ' s oasis, known as Monarch Waystations.
These facilities provide all of the necessary resources necessary for the winged creatures to not only sustain their migration but produce successive generations.
Without milkweeds throughout their spring and summer breeding areas in North America, monarchs would not be able to produce the successive generations that culminate in the migration each fall. Similarly, without nectar from flowers these fall migratory monarch butterflies would be unable to make their long journey to overwintering grounds in Mexico. The need for host plants for larvae and energy sources for adults applies to all monarch and butterfly populations around the world.
The Monarch Waystation Program was launched after concerns over decline in nectar sources, more pesticide use, developments and frequent mowing, among other factors. Because 90 % of all milkweed / monarch habitats occur within the agricultural landscape, farm practices have the potential to strongly influence monarch populations.
Development( of subdivisions, factories, shopping centers, etc.) in the U. S. is consuming habitats for monarchs and other wildlife at a rate of 6,000 acres( 9.4 square miles) a day- that ' s 2.2 million acres each year, according to Monarch Watch. This is roughly equivalent to losing an area of habitat the size of the state of Illinois every 16 years.
Communities across Cooke County have stepped up to help by establishing registered Monarch Waystations in home gardens, schools, businesses, parks, nature centers, roadsides and unused plots of land.
The Kay Hickey KMB Memorial Garden is home to a waystation and nearby, a pollinator garden at the Muenster City Park as part of a project for the Keep Texas Beautiful Governor ' s
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