Monarch Mondays with Michele are happening this summer at the Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman Road in Temperance.
Michele Alvarez, a retired advanced master gardener, will hold outside office hours at the Monarch Waystation in front of the library on Mondays. There are a total of three stations. The program will run until Aug. 24, 2026.
Slated from 9-11 a.m., weather permitting, Alvarez will answer questions, talk about the special plants in the garden and the pollinators who will be visiting the designated area.
The program, in its second year, is designed for children and accompanying adults. It will focus on monarch butterflies, their life cycle and the migration they make each season. Parents and guardians are encouraged to participate and be engaged with their child.
“This is the second year, and it went really well last year,” Alvarez said. “I get a lot of adults that will stop by. They will ask about problems in their garden.”
Research indicates over the last few decades, populations of the orange and black butterflies have declined by more than 90%.
According to Save Our Monarch.org, milkweed is the monarch butterfly’s only source of substance. It’s the only plant that the monarch caterpillar will eat and their habitat is disappearing because people cut down the plant because it looks like a weed.
“There are several varieties of milkweed that are native to Michigan,” Alvarez said. “There is one that gets out of control, the common milkweed, and people will pull that. There are other milkweeds that can be available for monarchs. That’s the only place they will lay their eggs, on milkweed. They will use other flowers for a nectar source.”
There are ways to save monarchs. The National Wildlife Foundation suggests planting milkweed, save native grasslands, don’t use pesticides and create a habitat with food, water, cover and places to raise young monarchs.
“The program has been great. The kids love to come out and find the caterpillars,” she added. “I’ll check out the gardens in the morning and I’ll say, ‘Hey, there are six caterpillars. See if you can find them.’ I’ll give them a sticker if they can find them.”
— Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Here’s how you can help save monarch butterflies at Bedford library
Reporting by Lisa Vidaurri Bowling, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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By Lisa Vidaurri Bowling, The Monroe News | USA TODAY Network
