The Monarch Movement

My childhood memories include summers of Monarch sightings, butterflies landing on picnic blankets, catching colorful ones in jars and enjoying their beauty in our parks and back yards.  If we act now we can save the monarchs and ensure that future generations right here in Fort Wayne will continue to have these experiences and interactions as well. Because these pollinators already pass through Fort Wayne, we are uniquely poised to provide much needed and scarce habitat for them along their migratory journey.  Monarchs are a remarkable species with a 3000 mile migration that traverses 3 continents and their migratory path. We can make a difference by helping to preserve, protect and promote their well being by providing a needed way station along the way so they can eat, rest and reproduce while educating others in our area to do the same.  Milkweed is necessary for monarchs because their caterpillars eat it and it is the only plant they lay their eggs on, but Milkweed is disappearing from our landscape. Nectar plants are needed because butterflies drink their nectar for vitamins and nutrients to reproduce and to help them on their migratory journey. Fort Wayne already is making steps to be a butterfly friendly city.  There are programs already running throughout the area with many local agencies. We want to continue to partner with them in an effort to be an example and leader in conservation, and Monarch butterfly preservation.  

Funds will be used to buy milkweed and nectar plants wholesale for the Monarch butterfly sanctuary being created on the campus of Concordia Lutheran High School.  We are working with professionals from many local agencies and businesses as well as staff at the National Butterfly Center in Mission, TX who are helping us design our space, purchase plants at discounted rates, donating materials and advising us on sustaining the sanctuary we are creating.  Specifically we are requesting funds to purchase milkweed and nectar plant plugs to install in our garden space. Through our community connections, we will be able to purchase these young native plants at a discount of 50%-75% off of retail prices. Additionally these native plants will be purchased from local and regional growers including but not limited to nurseries in Walkerton, IN, Muncie, IN and Fort Wayne, IN.   The native plants consist of local and regional genotypes. This means that the plants are original to this area and the seeds are harvested from plants that grow locally. These are the best and most appropriate plants we can use.  

We so appreciate anything and everything that you choose to give to support this cause. The butterflies thank you too.