THE ISSUE 

WE ARE LOSING OUR VALUABLE POLLINATORS.

Butterflies and other pollinators have experienced significant declines across the globe. The Monarch butterfly population alone has decreased up to 75%–90% depending upon the year.

Pollinators are being threatened by a number of factors, including habitat loss, increased pesticide use, and introduced diseases. In the United States, a vast majority of land has been altered in some way, including the creation of millions of acres of lawns which often lack the native plants needed to support pollinators


WHY SAVE THE POLLINATORS?

ONE-THIRD OF OUR FOOD SUPPLY IS DEPENDENT UPON POLLINATION.

Food: Many of our favorite foods such as apples, avocados, cherries, almonds, blueberries, lemons and much more are made possible by insects. If they were to disappear foods would become rare and expensive. 

THE BENEFITS OF NATIVE PLANTS 

Low maintenance: These amazing plants have adapted to our natural landscapes. Due to their deep roots they require less watering than non-native species. Once established in your garden, they require very little maintenance, and they come back every year.

Healthy & SAFE: These plants are healthy for the pollinators and are healthy for you. Suburban lawns on average have 10 times more chemical pesticides than farms. Native plants are better adapted to our climate and eliminate the need for toxic chemicals. Thus providing a safe environment for our wildlife and families.

NATIVE PLANTS:


• Require less water due to their deep roots
• Need no pesticides
• They grow back each year
• They feed our local pollinators, birds and us!

WHAT WOULD WE MISS?

Nearly 90% of all flowering plants, including many fruit and vegetable crops, benefit from pollinators. This means that most of our favorite foods would either totally disappear or be extremely rare and expensive.Some of these items include:

• Honey
• Avocados
• Cherries
• Tequila
• Coffee
• Apple Pie
• Almonds
• Blueberries
• Tomatoes
• Squash

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

PLANT A POLLINATOR GARDEN AND RESTORE OUR NATURAL HABITAT

HELPING HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER—PLANT A BUTTERFLY GARDEN

The most effective way you can help is by planting a pollinator-friendly garden with milkweed for the Monarchs to lay their eggs. And there are many native plants that are also great for other butterflies, bees, humming birds, and pollinators.

By choosing these landscape-worthy natives featured in this handout, you can help save our ecosystem one pollinator at a time. 

Report Monarch butterfly sightings online at  https://journeynorth.org/sightings/.

WHAT’S HAPPENING TO THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY?

Cities across the Midwest are taking the pledge to try and save the Monarch butterfly and Rochester officially joined that list in 2018. The Mayors’ Monarch Pledge is a program that is aimed at helping the Monarch increase in population and flourish. 

Mayor Rob Ray stated, "With our wealth of natural habitat in the city, Rochester is in an ideal position to lead on the issue of helping support our Monarch butterfly and our pollinators." 

Check out all the cities involved in the Mayor's Monarch Pledge!

The milkweed plant is essential to this magnificent creatures survival as they are a host plant that the female Monarch only lays her eggs on.