“Don’t waste your time chasing butterflies. Mend your garden, and the butterflies will come.” ~Mario Quintana, poet
There’s something magical about butterflies — especially the way they transform from crawling caterpillar to freedom flyer. We seem particularly drawn to the monarch with its bright orange and black wings. To see one light on a flower on a warm summer day grabs our attention in the peaceful appreciation of nature.
Which makes the news that monarch butterflies were classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in July especially troubling. The news has led at least one local resident on a crusade to help save the monarchs.
“All summer, I’ve been noticing there are no butterflies,” said Kris MacGillivray Shannon, housing choice voucher program director at the Logan County Metropolitan Housing Authority. “I’ve looked for them here and on a trip to West Virginia, and I’m not seeing them.”
Because of her love of nature and the outdoors, Shannon immediately began investigating why this migratory pollinator is now at risk of extinction. She knew monarchs are dependent on milkweed to survive, and soon discovered a large field of the plant near Mad River Mountain.
Don’t let the name “milkweed” fool you. Far from being an invasive weed, it is, in fact, of the genus Asclepias, a diverse group of beneficial wildflowers, and not only to monarchs.
“The main benefit is they’re the only food source for butterfly and larvae to feed off of,” Steve Searson, district administrator for Logan Soil and Water Conservation District said. “The flowers are also highly sought after for native bees.”
With several pollinators dependent on the milkweed, efforts are being taken to protect the wildflower fields we have and encourage homeowners to plant the seeds in their yards.
For their part, the staff at Mad River Mountain are committed to helping the butterfly population on their grounds.
“Preserving and protecting our environment is core to what we do,” said Pamela Hoye, senior communications manager for Vail Resorts Midwest Region,. “As a vast outdoor space, we do have monarch butterflies on our property and, as such, we’re limiting any areas where we mow.”
In addition, they will limit making unnecessary changes to the butterfly habitat.
With that in mind, the resort encourages people in the community to access the field and collect seeds as long as they ask for permission in advance. You can do so by e-mailing the resort at [email protected].
Then consider planting a pollinator garden in your own backyard. After all, caring for milkweed and monarchs is vital to our survival.
“They’re the main pollinator for our own food supply, so if we lose that, we’ll be affected,” Searson said.
For more information on planting a wildflower pollinator garden at home, contact the Logan SWCD at (937) 593-2946. The organization has a wildlife biologist on staff — Ashley Dawson — who can give advice on what plants work best in your situation.
“Maybe it’s time to get away from the traditional green grass lawns,” Shannon concluded. “Think of future generations and what we want to leave for them. They won’t care if we had nice green lawns.”
The 411 on collecting milkweed pods/seeds:
• Don’t collect seeds while the pods are still green. If you pick them too early they could become moldy.
• Wait until the pods turn brown or gray and split open. Jennifer Snipes, administrative assistant for Logan Soil & Water Conservation District, recommends holding off until after Oct. 1 to make sure.
• To be safe, prevent the seeds from becoming moldy by placing them in a breathable paper bag or cardboard box.
• Drop off the collected pods/seeds at the Logan SWCD office, 324 County Road 11, Bellefontaine, for processing throughout the month of October.