This October 1-18, order regional native plants at wholesale rates and get a FREE MILKWEED plant! This comes courtesy of the Alliance’s North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Grant that we received in 2014.
With every plant you purchase, you will get a FREE 2” milkweed plant (5 free plants per customer).
Plants will be available for pickup in the neighborhood on October 23rd-24th. (location will be emailed to you.)
You don't have to be a member to participate, but if you are interested in more events click here to BECOME A MEMBER.
Now it’s your turn to preserve the Monarch Butterfly population! Milkweed is the favored Monarch butterfly larval food, and fall is the ideal time to plant it for next spring’s migration. Jerry Schneider, a MWHA member and beloved neighbor, has offered to spearhead the plant sale again this year. He commented “my observations in nature parks have shown that more Monarchs are attracted to lay their eggs on Milkweed plants when other native plants are present, which provide nectar for the adult butterflies. I believe in the importance of milkweed and plant diversity.”
Do you already grow milkweed? Be sure you have the correct species. The incorrect species can do more harm than good! Because Narrow-Leaf Native Milkweed is dormant until the spring, new varieties with beautiful year-round flowering orange and yellow blooms became a popular replacement. The Xerces Society researchers believe this evergreen milkweed confuses normal monarch migration and allows harmful microscopic parasites to grow, sickening the adults, messing up their lifespans, migration patterns and ability to reproduce.
According to the Los Angeles Times,
“Remember: Pink is good, orange is bad…butterfly experts say California native milkweeds, with their pink, white and cream-colored flowers are the only milkweeds we should be planting in Southern California, because they typically go dormant around December (meaning the tops of the plants die back but the roots stay alive), and regrow when things warm up in the spring, around April or May.”
If you don’t want a barren winter garden, we offer a solution! Join in our online Plant event and purchase native, butterfly-friendly species at wholesale prices that you can plant along with your FREE NATIVE MILKWEED to keep your garden vibrant all year round.
Schneider recalls, “I went to the lecture and book signing by Douglas Tallamy, professor and chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, promoting his book, “Bringing Wildlife Home, How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants.” His book illustrates how home gardeners can make their gardens into wildlife refuges. Tallamy points out that many butterfly larvae can only survive on the native plants they have evolved with over thousands of years. He also points out that private home gardens constitute much more land and opportunities than public parks for restoring wildlife habitat.”
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