The annual migration of North America’s monarch butterfly is unique, mysterious and amazing and Kansas City is part of the Mississippi Flyway path that monarch butterflies follow each fall as they migrate from Canada to Mexico. And we can all play a part in protecting these important pollinators.
Unique
The monarch is the only butterfly known to make a two-way migration as birds do.
These regal butterflies are a sight to behold with their vibrant orange wings, laced with black veins and bordered by a black edge dotted with white spots. Their wingspans can reach almost five inches across. This striking coloration isn’t just for show; it serves as a warning to predators that the monarch is unpalatable, thanks to the toxins it accumulates from its host plant, milkweed.
Milkweed is not a weed. According to Anne Wehner, a perennial plant sales associate at Suburban Gardens in Martin City, milkweed is a native plant that grows and reseeds itself. It is not an invasive plant. It provides a place for the mother monarch to lay her eggs, and hatched caterpillars feed on the milkweed. Milkweed does not negatively affect the soil. It is preferable to plant in full sun in the spring or fall. Once established, water as needed…