FRANKFORT, Ill. — A dramatic drop-off in the population of the monarch butterfly is being blamed on both modern farming practices and urban sprawl. An initiative announced in May by the federal government intends to reverse the declining monarch population by enhancing habitat on federal lands, investing more money in research and limiting pesticide usage on Uncle Sam’s property.
The federal plan came just as many grassroots, volunteer organizations in states such as Illinois were launching their own efforts to preserve the monarch population by working with key state agencies and the public to plant varieties of milkweed – the monarch’s favorite sustenance – in appropriate areas.
In the Prairie State, Garden Clubs of Illinois’ (GCI) Milkweed for Monarchs Project Chair Kay MacNeil is working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to get flower seed, including varieties of milkweed, into any roadside restoration or construction projects. She also coordinates with affiliated garden clubs to get milkweed samples and low-cost packets of the seed into the hands of backyard gardeners across the state.
In addition, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) officials have announced they will use all the milkweed seed GCI can provide them, according to MacNeil, a volunteer who makes her home in the northern Illinois community of Frankfort.
"We’ve also recently worked with the Cook County Board and highway commissioner to put 29 drop boxes of milkweed seed in townships in Cook County, along with other townships, and put information into township newsletters," said MacNeil. "This is something that each and every one of us can do. We don’t see tigers marching through the back 40 too often, but monarchs will come if we plant the right plants."
MacNeil acknowledged farmers aren’t too keen on the presence of milkweed on their lands. That’s why she encourages individuals who plant native swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) to do so only on byways, along Osage orange hedgerows or in wild areas where there will be no complaints – never near a farm field.
"People have told me they grew up on a farm and their father always had them pulling milkweed. Common milkweed has roots similar to elephant’s trunk that grow horizontal and vertical. That gives milkweed a bad rap from farmers," said MacNeil.
"Farmers need to know there are non-invasive milkweed varieties. Most know only about the common variety, and their fathers may have told them it was a lousy plant. There is a little prejudice that needs to be broken down."
MacNeil plants up to 16 varieties in various locations on her property, ranging from common milkweed in isolated plots to hybrids and exotic varieties that can commingle with other common garden plants.
"Swamp milkweed and (other varieties) are very well-mannered and do not move by roots. They do get seeds, because they have flowers. You can control that by cutting off the seed pods and giving them to a friend, or sending them to me," she said.
A self-addressed, stamped envelope along with $1 sent to MacNeil will net individuals a modest package of seed with instructions for planting. Those planting milkweed are encouraged to collect and de-fluff the three varieties of seed recommended by GCI, with excess seed not needed for individual dispersal projects separated by variety and returned to MacNeil.
This facilitates an ongoing supply of seed varieties for dispersal to IDOT or back into the GCI Milkweed for Monarchs project.
MacNeil recently received 6,000 packets of swamp milkweed seed from GCI’s milkweed project partner, the Minneapolis-based Save Our Monarchs (www.saveourmonarchs.org), a 501c3 charity. She is looking to get those seed packets into the hands of individuals, women’s clubs, church groups, Girl and Boy scouts, 4-H and others willing to distribute and plant milkweed seed around the state.
"We are different from other organizations. We are not scientists. We are just people with good hearts that want to do something about this problem," MacNeil said. "And it is so doable, so simple."
For seed packets immediately, contact Save Our Monarchs through its website or, in Illinois, Kay MacNeil at 609 Golf Club Lane, Frankfort, IL 60423 or by emailing kaymac60423@yahoo.com
