The eastern North American migratory population of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is in serious decline. Most efforts to conserve this iconic pollinator focus on habitat restoration in the agriculturally dominated landscapes of the U.S. Midwest. Often overlooked are small, butterfly-centric gardens, such as Monarch Waystations, that can act as stepping stones between urban and rural areas that are likely to contain remnant populations of monarch host plants. This presentation addresses the environmental pressures faced by monarch butterflies, why their conservation matters, and what initiatives can offset their decline. It explains how applying sustainable agriculture theory and butterfly host-finding theory to conservation gardens can increase their findability, usage, and overall ecological value for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Discussion will also cover the viability of milkweed “nativars” as monarch host plants and their potential use in conservation plantings.
