The key to keeping Monarch Butterflies alive: The native milkweed plant
Santa Monica College (SMC) students gathered on the grass, helping pot and disperse native milkweed plants to other students attending an Earth week series event on Thursday, April 24.
The buzz of eager students flitted through the air as they lined up to pick up their free native milkweed plant at the “Save the Monarch, Plant Milkweed” event hosted by the Adelante club.
The special guest for the event was Teague Weybright, the program coordinator for Santa Monica Community Garden. Weybright stood on the grass quad conversing with students and watched as others sat in a circle on the grass potting the plant.
Milkweed is native to the western states and is threatened by its main competitor and invasive species, tropical milkweed. Native milkweed is essential for keeping the monarch butterfly species alive.
“The milkweed plant is a host for the monarch butterfly, so it is the only plant that monarchs lay their eggs on,” Weybright said.
Monarch butterflies have a connection to groups in Mexico City, according to Weybright. Once they migrate down to Mexico from Canada they create overwinter clusters on trees, which provide shelter for them. “(The timing of their migration and) when they arrive coincides a little bit with Día De Los Muertos,” Weybright said.
“The Monarchs, in lore, are the returning of children and ancestors to their ancestral homes,” Weybright said. He continues, in reference to this Mexican lore, the monarch butterflies hold a lot of meaning to the people of Mexico since the migration symbolizes their people coming back to them.
Native milkweed plants continued to be handed off to students, and Weybright shared information on how to care for a milkweed plant.
The ideal time to plant milkweed is early spring, specifically March or April, and it is important to monitor how much water they are given. Weybright said they only need water about once a week. It is also completely natural for milkweed to lose its leaves during the fall and winter seasons since the plant goes dormant during this time.
Native milkweed plants are vital to keep the monarch butterfly population thriving. As for the invasive milkweed species, in addition to monarchs being unable to lay their eggs on them, they also inhibit caterpillars growth.
“Save The Monarch, Plant Milkweed” was the last event put on by former Adelante club president, Nahomy Rivas, before she stepped down from her position. Additionally, the club hosted the Sip N’ Paint event the Tuesday beforehand where students painted their own clay pots for the milkweed plant. The event was held in memoriam of Mexican Environmental Activist, Homero Gomez Gonzalez.