Page 8 - 2019 Sonoma County Gardeners Resource Guide

8 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 3/19
MONARCHS cont’d on page 9
PHOTO by Candy Sarikonda
By Kelly Rourke, Director of Programs, Pollinator Partnership
Monarch Wings Across California (MWAC) is a new initiative of Pollinator Partnership (P2) modeled after the success of the Monarch Wings Across Ohio program, with initial funding from the Monarch Joint Venture and the Hillsborough Garden Club.
This program aims to establish monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) research
and habitat sites throughout the state of California for the species lesser-studied western population. The goals of this project are to:
1. Establishment of long-term habitat sites for migrating monarchs in California,
2. Improved understanding of the migration patterns and forage requirements of California monarch butterflies,
3. Collect California monarch habitat
restoration data to inform restoration efforts and indicate potential seed
sources for future projects.
In fall of 2018, Russian River Vineyards (RRV), Forestville became the first habitat site established by MWAC. Over the course
leaved milkweed (A. fascicularis), which are important larval hosts for the monarch.
As native species sourced from local nurseries, these plants will also help support the local seed bank and be easier to manage in periods of prolonged drought. RRV has taken an important first step in influencing the land management practices of northern California to account for monarchs and other pollinators.
LEARN about Pollinator Projects - you can be be a part of saving these butterflies, bees, birds and other pollinators:
monarchjointventure.org - support the western monarch migration through strategic habitat enhancements. Resources for teaching and learning
pollinator.org - Download the FREE Monarch Plant List journeynorth.org - be part of tracking monarch migration, report sightings, etc.
of 3 days, RRV and P2 staff planted a 1/5-acre area with over 1,000 plants from 17 different native plant species, all of which are of special value as nectar sources and larval food sources to monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
Butterfly Attracting Plants
All the flowers make a sensational garden, & female butterflies will pass through the garden nectaring .
Common nectar plants:
• Asters
• Bidens
• Buddleia
• Centranthus
• Cosmos
• Daisies
• Lilacs
• Marigolds
• Sweet William
• Verbenas
• Wallflowers (Erysimums) • Zinnias
The female will be looking for the specific larval food plants on which to lay her eggs.
Common larval food plants:
• Mourning Cloak: Willow
• Monarch: Milkweed
• Pipevine Swallowtail: Pipevine
• Tiger Swallowtail: Willow, Alder, Poplar,
Apple
• Anise Swallowtail: Carrot family: Anise,
Carrot, Bill, Fennel, Parsley
• Cabbage White: Cabbage family,
Nasturtium
• Buckeye: Plantain, Snapdragon family • West Coast Lady: Hollyhock family
• Painted Lady: Hollyhock family
• Skipper (4 kinds): Bunch Grasses
• Militta Crescent: Asters
Notable on the planting list were two species
of milkweed, showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) and narrow-