Monarchs Make a Stop at Botanica

This fall, Botanica celebrated a remarkable monarch migration season, tagging more than 200 monarch butterflies throughout September and October, helping track their incredible 3,000-mile journey to Mexico.

The gardens also served as a nursery for over 30 monarchs that started as tiny eggs found on milkweed plants. These butterflies completed their full metamorphosis in Botanica’s Butterfly Bungalow, offering students a hands-on opportunity to learn about the monarch life cycle and the importance of pollinator conservation.

This year, staff observed a greater number of monarchs lingering in the gardens compared to last year. This was likely influenced by warmer temperatures, reduced rainfall, and the abundance of unsprayed nectar plants and milkweed available on site. Botanica’s certified Monarch Waystation provides critical habitat for migrating monarchs, offering safe shelter and essential resources during their 3,000-mile journey to Mexico. More than 1,000 students witnessed the migration firsthand during field trips and educational programs at Botanica, while over 85 guests joined our special Monarch Migration Tours to see the beauty and science of it all unfold.

Early observations suggest that monarch numbers have either increased or remained stable compared to last year. That’s a hopeful sign and testament to the importance of community-based conservation efforts, like what we do here at Botanica, and how they can truly make a difference.