Opinion

Garden clubs helped bring back Monarchs

Posted September 23, 2018 1:00 am

Your front page article Sept. 17 about the increase in Monarch butterflies in Illinois this year did not mention why there are greater numbers.

The Garden Clubs of Illinois, an organization with 7,000 members, has had a "Milkweed for Monarchs" program since 2015. Since milkweed is the only plant that Monarchs eat and lay eggs on, it was important to have speakers, videos and seeds available to Garden Club members and their friends and families in order to promote the planting of milkweed. Due to suburban sprawl, much of the Monarchs' milkweed food supply and egg-laying foliage had been bulldozed away.

Now when I see Monarchs in my neighborhood, I'd like to think that the ambitious Garden Club initiative in Illinois played an important part in making that happen.

Jean Hoder, Member,

Itasca Garden Club

Itasca

Article Comments

Article Categories
Communities Itasca Letters to the Editor Opinion

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.