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The Monarch Pledge: Bringing Butterflies to Johnsburg
We are proud to announce that our Village President, Edwin P. Hettermann, has signed the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge.
The goal of the Monarch Pledge is to encourage monarch butterflies to the area, make the most of our outdoor space and create a beautiful habitat for pollinators, wildlife, and our community.
What are Monarch Butterflies?
Monarchs are the pretty orange butterflies with black and white detailing that are native to North America. Every year, monarch butterflies fly south towards Mexico for the winter. Sadly, the population of monarch butterflies has declined by 80% over the last 20 years.
Avoid Insecticides: Protect Our Butterflies
Many people don’t realize that insecticides also poison butterflies. Avoid using insecticides to protect the pollinators in your garden and create a beautiful, safe space for wildlife.
Plants That Attract Monarch Butterflies
You might be wondering what to plant to attract monarch butterflies to your garden. Butterflies feed on nectar, and pollen gets caught on their legs as they move from plant to plant. There are certain plants that are more attractive to beautiful monarch butterflies, and they can make a big difference to how many you see in your garden.
So, what plants do monarch butterflies like? Here are just a few:
Milkweed Plants for Monarchs
Planting milkweed is a great way to attract monarch butterflies to your yard. To make a significant impact, try planting at least two different native milkweed species. Swamp milkweed is a pretty choice that flowers in pink and purple hues. Orange and yellow butterfly milkweed is also a vibrant and popular variety.
Nectar-Rich, Native Plants
There are many nectar-rich, native plants to choose from. New England asters and tickseed sunflowers are just two beautiful choices that are native to Illinois. The great thing about planting native flowers is that they’re easy to care for and thrive with little effort.
Flowers that Bloom Throughout the Year
With a little extra thought and research, you can keep butterflies visiting for longer. Plant flowers that bloom at varying times throughout the year so your visiting butterflies can always find the food they need.
The placement of your plants can also make a difference in what kind of pollinators you attract. Butterflies prefer to feed in the sun, so plant your milkweed and nectar-rich plants in areas that get sunlight most of the time to enjoy more visiting butterflies.
The Monarch Pledge
Below is a copy of the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge signed by Edwin P. Hettermann, Village of Johnsburg President:
WHEREAS, the monarch butterfly is an iconic American species whose multigenerational migration and metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly has captured the imagination of millions of Americans; and
WHEREAS, 20 years ago, more than one billion Eastern monarch butterflies migrated to Mexico, but in the winter of 2014, only 60 million made the trip; and
WHEREAS, cities, towns, villages and counties have a critical role to play to help save the monarch butterfly and the Village of Johnsburg can play a leadership role by planting native plants and milkweed that support this spectacular iconic migration; and
WHEREAS, every resident of Johnsburg can make a difference for the monarch by planting native milkweed and nectar plants to provide habitat for the monarch and pollinators in locations where people live, work, learn, play and worship; and
WHEREAS, on behalf of the residents of Johnsburg who have already joined me in creating healthy habitat for these magnificent butterflies, I am honored to sign the National Wildlife Federation's Mayor's Monarch Pledge; and I encourage other local government officials across our great nation to take a stand with me so that the monarch butterfly will once again flourish across the continent.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Edwin P. Hettermann, President of the Village of Johnsburg and Board of Trustees, do hereby proclaim this day as MAYOR'S MONARCH PLEDGE in the Village of Johnsburg.
The above declaration was signed June 20th 2022, marking the start of Pollinator Week in the Village of Johnsburg.
Help us make Johnsburg even more beautiful by creating a pollinator garden for monarch butterflies in your own outdoor space.
Visit Johnsburg
If you live outside of Johnsburg we welcome you to visit and get involved!
To keep up with news on the Monarch Pledge and stay aware of new initiatives, follow us on Instagram and Facebook, or give the Village of Johnsburg a call.
