Monarch migration this fall echoed ones of the past with hundreds of butterflies gathered in spectacular roosts and thousands flying over head, peppering the sky with black and orange. The abundance is encouraging and an indication that with favorable weather and sufficient habitat, the monarch population can bounce back.

monarchtheresedavis
Photo by Therese Davis

On October 17th, DuPage Monarch Project is hosting Creating Healthy Landscape: Planting for Pollinators, which will offer presentations and case studies on designing attractive, sustainable landscaping that also functions as monarch and pollinator habitat. DuPage Monarch Project’s goal is to ensure enough habitat is available to sustain a healthy local breeding population of monarchs and fuel migrants as they pass through the county on their annual journeys.

All landscaping from backyard gardens to corporate campuses has the potential to be habitat when the right plants are included. “It doesn’t change the cost of plant materials if you buy daylilies or coneflowers, but coneflowers provide additional benefits for native insects and birds,” said Jim Kleinwachter, The Conservation Foundation’s representative to DuPage Monarch Project.

Several local natural areas management companies will be available at the half-day symposium for answering questions and concerns about establishing new habitat or refreshing an existing one. This is an opportunity for networking with people who are transforming the way we think about gardens and demonstrating how backyards, school yards, church yards, parkways and parks can be part of the solution to declining pollinators and monarchs.

Attendees will take home new understandings about milkweed, is it just for monarchs and who’s the best pollinator, butterflies or bees.

Creating Healthy Landscapes: Planting for Pollinators

October 17, 8:00 am – 12:30 pm – check in opens at 7:30 am

Danada House   3S501 Naperville Rd   Wheaton

Free and open to the public   Registration requested

http://www.dupageforest.org/things-to-do/creating-healthy-landscapes-symposium