🪴Lantana CONTAINERS + Western Monarch Warning ⚠️

Good Weekend GROWer,

unfortunately, it is not a good weekend for western monarchs overwintering in California. Their estimated population is the second-lowest recorded since 1997 at just 9,119 butterflies, counted across multiple overwintering grounds along the west coast. This is a sharp decline from the past 3 years, when there has been over 200k monarchs.

Xerces Society, a non-profit that supports western monarchs, blames pesticides, habitat loss, and severe weather events brought on by climate change. It’s reported that the recent Los Angeles county wildfires burned some of the tree groves where monarchs overwinter.

One way for gardeners to support more monarchs in a climate-changing world is to plant continuous-blooming plants that will brighten your garden, while saving more butterflies! Here’s one you can grow in containers…

Growing Lantana…in Pots

Potted plants are usually featured flowers in the garden, and often on decks and patios where they can be easily seen. This makes them an excellent choice for viewing butterflies and other pollinators at close range. Here’s info and PHOTOS on growing lantana in containers:

How to Grow Potted Lantana…for Butterflies ⬅️

Coming Up?

Next time I’ll be back to discuss a new predator in our butterfly garden, and the solution we came up with to keep them away. 🛑 🦋 Until then…

Blue Skies and Butterflies,

Tony your Butterfly Guide