If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.
~Author Unknown –
Grimsby Arts Walk, Grimsby, ON, Canada
Public Outdoor Project
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for the Monarchs
-the Milkweed project |
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For fourteen autumns I have cast Milkweed seeds like stardust into open fields and over the years, like magic, more and more plants are appearing. I begin by plucking their pods, and then gently pull them open to reveal silken white fluff anchored by flat brown heads. Each time I do this, I marvel at their perfect design; made for the wind to throw them to life.
On September 27, 2014, as part of the Grimsby Arts Walk, I invited the community to help get our Monarch butterflies back by having a similar experience.
Passersby were asked if they would like to help the Monarchs by saving and planting Milkweed in their garden.
I provided a limited number of locally harvested milkweed seed pods.
On September 27, 2014, as part of the Grimsby Arts Walk, I invited the community to help get our Monarch butterflies back by having a similar experience.
Passersby were asked if they would like to help the Monarchs by saving and planting Milkweed in their garden.
I provided a limited number of locally harvested milkweed seed pods.
Seeds
Participants were fascinated to see the seeds in their natural state, encased by protective pods. Upon opening them, they removed the seeds and were asked to write their name, or a message, on the remaining seed pod. I kept the pod. They kept the seeds.
Pods
Milkweed seed pods are extremely durable and weather tolerant, so I presented each signed pod in a tree at the entrance of the Grimsby Public Art Gallery and Library. The project continues to grow.
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Milkweed seeds for sale
If you are interested in purchasing Milkweed seeds to plant in your garden to attract our Monarchs, I have some available and ship throughout Canada, US and parts of Europe. To order, please click here.
All images and context are copyright to Jan Yates. No information on this page can be reproduced without permission from the artist.
From the David Suzuki Foundation:
‘Usually, hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies, each weighing less than a paperclip, travel
some 5,000 kilometres from Canada to Mexico—the longest insect migration on Earth. But
monarchs are in deep trouble, and need urgent help.
Monarchs overwinter in Mexico. Last year, only 60 million turned up — the lowest since
monitoring began in 1993. A study by WWF Mexico estimates that number has plunged again by
almost half in winter 2014 — leading experts to suggest the monarch migration may disappear
altogether.
Canadians have had a wacky, never-ending winter. It's been even worse for monarch butterflies.
Their numbers overwintering in Mexico hit an all-time low. Severe weather and the virtual
eradication of milkweed (the plant monarch mothers and caterpillars depend on) throughout
much of their migratory path has put the monarchs' epic migration back to Canada at risk.’
David Suzuki Foundation. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/
What can government do to protect monarchs?
There is currently no formal protection for the monarch in Canada. It's listed as a species of
"special concern" under federal and provincial endangered species legislation.
The David Suzuki Foundation recommends:
•Removing milkweed from noxious weed acts
•Protecting native wildflower habitat and encouraging planting along roadsides, and rail
and hydro corridors
•Protecting migration stopover sites from disturbance.
