August 2021 Meeting: Monarch Butterflies and the Monarch Waystation at Shake Rag Alley

On August 4th, Uplands Garden Club met at the newly created Monarch Waystation at Shake Rag Alley. The program was on the Monarch butterfly, whose population has been decimated by over 90%. So the meeting focused on what we can do, as gardeners, to sustain and grow this butterfly population facing extinction.

A team of gardeners presented on:

• how the idea of a Waystation at Shake Rag evolved
• how a Monarch Waystation fits into Shake Rag Alley’s mission
• how the gardens were planned and funded
• raising butterflies from larvae
• what milkweed and nectar plants are included in the Waystation
• weed identification

In 2018, Master Gardener Harriet Ridnour had an idea, and Master Gardener Jane Stenson had the energy to apply for a $400 grant from the Wisconsin Master Gardener organization to purchase plants to develop two of the 20 garden beds on the 2.5-acre Shake Rag Alley campus into monarch butterfly gardens. According to Monarch Watch, “Monarch Waystations are places that provide resources necessary for monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration.”

With support from the Driftless Area Land Conservancy and guidance from Micah Kloppenburg, outreach ecologist with the Blue Mounds Area Project, the volunteers cleared and prepped the beds, then planted different milkweed for monarch larvae — common milkweed, rose or swamp milkweed, oval-leaf milkweed, butterfly weed, whorled milkweed and poke milkweed — as well as nectar plants that serve as protein sources.

In November of 2020, Shake Rag Alley was officially added to the Monarch Waystation Registry maintained by Monarch Watch and is the fourth waystation in Mineral Point. Master Gardener and Uplands Garden Club member volunteer Dr. Everett Lindsey designed and constructed the Waystation sign.

Here’s what we now know: It’s no longer just about pretty or “right plant, right place.” Now we add in the idea of “what does this plant do for the environment and for pollinators.” The panel of gardeners presenting on August 4th clearly stated the need and desire for Shake Rag Alley’s Butterfly Garden.

We learned a lot:

• two to three percent of Monarchs typically reach adulthood;
• cut common milkweed back in June so the young plants will sprout;
• adult monarchs will lay their eggs on the younger milkweeds which are easier for larvae to chew;
• plant local nectar and milkweed to support Monarchs, other butterflies, and pollinators;
• newborn larvae are cannibals which is why Monarchs try to lay one egg per leaf;
• Monarchs are not pollinators, but they have captured the imagination of people old and young, inspiring them to get involved in nature.

The goal for gardeners is to create corridors of supportive plantings that sponsor and sustain Monarchs, other butterflies and pollinators. This can be on road sides, your garden, schools, churches, community gardens and public spaces. Tremendous thanks to Harriet Ridnour, Sharon Stauffer, Jane Stenson, Melissa David, Jean Halverson and Nina Carns for establishing and maintaining the beds and for the presentation.

For more information on Monarch nectar plants for our area, refer to the Xerces Society Great Lakes Region plant list.

Jean Halverson talks about the milkweed and nectar plants in the Waystation.

Melissa David shares her experiences raising butterflies from larvae.