And make the world a more beautiful place
Monarch Resources
- The #1 site for everything about monarch butterflies: monarchwatch.org including how to track the butterflies.
- How to plant a butterfly garden or waystation.
- How to fix a butterfly’s broken wings
- Monarch Migration Google Earth Tour
- Educator resources by grade.
Cincinnati Resources
At Parker Woods Montessori, we all love monarch butterflies. Like many species on our planet, monarchs face many challenges. The population has shrunk dramatically, and their great migration has nearly collapsed more than once. That made Mirabella the Monarch a difficult story to write because I wanted to help, but I didn’t want the story to be depressing or preachy. Eventually, I chose to focus on the inspirational qualities of the monarch migration as an example of how we can make the world a better place. And I decided to put the science on the website along with some practical ways to help.
Three simple ways you can help save the monarch butterfly
- The #1 thing is to plant milkweed in your garden. It is a beautiful, low-maintenance perennial flower.
- Almost just as important as milkweed is to include plants friendly to pollinating insects (butterflies, bees and more). Adult monarchs drink nectar to power their migration. Surprisingly, it means no green, grassy lawns. Try planting an indigenous landscape. Or a vegetable garden is a great way to support both you and the monarchs.
- And, like all things on the planet, the monarch butterfly appreciates a clean, natural habitat. So that means no pesticides, herbicides or other pollutants like car exhaust or garbage.
There are even more ways to help in the sidebar. And if you need a good reason to do all these things, read our book Mirabella the Monarch with fantastic illustrations by the elementary students.
