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Independent Voice

Free Workshops Offered on Creating Monarch Butterfly Habitat

Oct 16, 2024 03:30PM ● By Solano Resource Conservation District News Release

A Monarch butterfly sips nectar from narrow leaf milkweed flowers. Photo by Ron Vanderhoff


DIXON, CA (MPG) - Solano Resource Conservation District (RCD) is offering two free online workshops and two free in-person workshops to help residents learn how to provide Monarch habitat in as little as 100 square feet in their own backyard.

Each workshop will cover the natural history and life cycle of Monarchs, the types of plants Monarchs need to survive, and how to correctly install and manage those plants for the benefit of butterflies. Monarch butterflies have suffered a 95% decline in their population numbers in the past decade. Loss of habitat and food resources are the main reasons for Monarchs’ decline and residents can help them recover by providing these resources in their backyards! As a bonus, installing plants that help Monarchs also benefits other pollinators, including honeybees and bumble bees.

The online workshops will be held on Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 7 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 6, 7 to 8 p.m.  The in-person workshops will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, 1 to 2 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. at Solano Resource Conservation District’s Fall Plant Sale, 4513 Putah Creek Road, Winters. 

Each workshop will cover the same material.  To register, please fill out the form at the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/h87xbcCvkb or contact Sammy Flohr at [email protected].

Workshop attendees will have the option of purchasing a Monarch Waystation kit for $25 at Solano Resource Conservation District’s Spring Native Plant Sale (one per home, while supplies last). These kits contain the perfect mix of flowering plants to nurture both Monarch butterflies and caterpillars, including 12 milkweed plants for Monarch caterpillars to feed and pupate on and 24 flowering plants that provide nectar for the adult butterflies. Simple drip irrigation kits that can be attached to a hose bib will also be available for purchase to make Monarch habitat installation a snap.

Solano Resource Conservation District’s annual Fall Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, from noon to 4 p.m. at Green River Brewing and Taproom, 4513 Putah Creek Road in Winters. In addition to the Monarch Waystation kits, many types of California native and drought tolerant plants will be available for purchase.