Keep your eyes peeled because monarch butterflies are on the move. The orange winged creatures are migrating 2,000+ miles south to Mexico from now until mid-October.
One of your best bets for catching a glimpse of the monarchs is to go to high-elevation areas along the Blue Ridge Parkway — plus, you’ll get the added bonus of seeing the gorgeous fall foliage. But as you admire the fluttering insects, it’s important to know how you can help protect them.
Over the past two decades, monarch numbers have declined due to habitat loss, misuse of pesticides, and climate change, but you can help build the future for the species in your own backyard. Milkweed is the only plant monarchs lay their eggs on and is the only plant that monarch caterpillars feed on. By adding it and other native pollinator plants to your garden, you can give the species the resources they need for a bright (orange) future.