Dear Editor
Did you realize monarch butterfly populations have drastically reduced? From an estimate of 1 billion in mid 1990s to the current estimate of 50 million. Reason: loss of milkweed to lay their eggs on. While 50 million may sound like a lot, compared with 1 billion, it is not. We all can do our part to help the population. Let a few milkweed plants grow in your yard. I would suggest remove the seeds so the milkweed doesn't take over. Apparently, if you have milkweed, the monarchs will come.
Why would I care? After experiencing a snippet of their migration twice, I am fascinated by the tenacity of these butterflies and my three-year-old being thrilled to no end with butterflies landing on him is a memory to treasure. Definitely want to see them continue to exist in plenty. Hey, let's all do our part. An interesting website: http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/help-monarchs-with-the-right-milkweeds/
Cheryl Carley
