Who are they?
Having only recently learned of the Live Monarch Foundation and love the services they’re providing, I’m spotlighting them here so you can get acquainted with them and get excited about their work, too!
This group’s working hard to fulfill a perpetual mission and their efforts are blessing millions of us!
Their mission
Offering education, involvement, assistance and acknowledgment of persons directly acting to benefit the Monarch Butterfly and various native creatures who have suffered a decline in their natural habitats.
The foundation can provide free-to-low cost milkweed seeds, indigenous to your area, and about to show you why that’s awesome!
Milkweed growth has been in rapid decline in many areas due to habitat loss, especially where large amounts of pesticides are in use.
As of this writing, a few types are listed on the federal endangered species list.
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| A monarch butterfly... |
Why are the monarchs sooooo important?
Important is an understatement.
They’re ranked as a flagship species due to their crucial role in pollination of both wildflowers (more on the wildflowers later) and food crop. These efforts help to maintain a much healthier ecosystem.
They’re ranked as a flagship species due to their crucial role in pollination of both wildflowers (more on the wildflowers later) and food crop. These efforts help to maintain a much healthier ecosystem.
And what’s milkweed got to do with the monarchs?
From pollinator food to organic medicine, milkweed maintains as a crucial aspect of a healthy ecology. Below is your breakdown of this amazing plant and why to grow it...
• It’s the ONLY FOOD SOURCE AND HABITAT for monarch caterpillars. Without milkweed, the monarch butterflies cannot survive.
• Over 450 types of insects feed on milkweed. It’s nectar-rich, attracting major pollinators like bees and butterflies.
• Is an organic, eco-friendly ingredient used in cleaning up oil spills. In fact, its natural absorbency factors outperform synthetic alternatives, making it an essential for toxic spill cleanup.
• Provides a defense for the monarch babies and adults via its toxin compounds that make them taste awful to predators. The monarchs also consume the milkweed nectar, providing them with fuel, an essential for both their long migration journeys.
For more than monarchs
Milkweed and us...
Milkweed has and continues to be used as an organic medicine
• Topically for warts, ringworm, bee stings and poison ivy
• Its cardiac glycosides are used in modern medicine to treat heart disorders
• As a tincture it can treat coughs due to asthma, bronchitis and even pleurisy due to lung inflammation
• Can help with gut issues such as diarrhea, dysentery and as a laxative.
• As a diuretic it can reduce edema and as a diaphoretic, it can help produce sweating
As food
• Its buds, flowers, immature pods and young shoots can be eaten as vegetables in stews or fried, after they’re boiled to neutralize its toxins.
Materials
• Its fluff is used for bedding and organic oil absorbency.
• Its sap is used to make glue
• Stem and root fibres are used in making cordage
• Dried pods are processed into insect repellents
The Live Monarch Foundation is helping us to keep milkweed abundant and thriving by providing education and low-to-no cost milkweed seed varieties that are indigenous to our own areas.
Help with restoration
Below are some linked images to get you to their site to learn more about their crucial work in helping to maintain quality ecosystems in our areas via their Plant a Seed Program.
(Images below are via the Live Monarch Foundation)
Just for fun!
Monarch swarming
I’ve only seen one in my whole life, and as I write this, I’m 61 years old. I was blessed to observe one for several minutes (wasn’t over but couldn’t stay longer) around a tree in front of the Post Office in Poseyville, Indiana. It was one of the most spectacular natural events I’ve ever witnessed.
Another was a swarm of killer bees in Glendale, California, in a residential area, while I was out for a jog. Thankfully it was down the street, with two police squad cars parked in front of it to warn passersby, until they could get the area cleared and safe.
I dunno how.. Maybe a few bee charmers?
If I never see a swarm of those types of bees again, I’ll be happy about it. The monarchs tho... BEAUTIFUL!!!
Monarch migration
The monarchs must migrate to survive. It allows them to escape freezing weather, deadly parasite infections and starvation.
The long migration weeds out those infected with parasitic infections and increases the lifespans of the healthy ones up to nine months longer than the infected ones.
Enjoy!
Below are two vids I hope you’ll take some time to watch, especially if you’ve never seen a butterfly swarm or their landing zone after fleeing winter weather. So cool!
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV
The wrap!
Growing up in a large aspect of America’s grain belt, and working within a generational, agricultural farming family, over the years I’ve learned the importance of good stewardship. It’s an absolute necessity. We really can especially conduct quality land management and be protective of the native plant and animal species within our areas, even as we produce food and other vegetation, without destroying the habitats of the native species that depend on them.
We can start with our own properties, be they little or big.
Thanks for visiting and supporting independent journalism. Please feel free to leave a comment, especially if you have further information or personal experience you’d like to share.
‘Til next time,
Shalom from Southern Indiana!
Angelia
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