Monarch Joint Venture

Happy National Flower Day! Flowers do more than brighten our gardens—they’re vital for pollinators like monarch butterflies and bees! By planting a diverse mix of native flowers with different shapes, sizes, and bloom times, you can attract and support a wide variety of pollinators throughout the season. Looking for native plant resources? Explore our guides here: https://lnkd.in/gZWjdKkj What’s your favorite native flower? Drop it in the comments! ?? Pictured in Order: 1.) swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 2.) New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) 3.) butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) 4.) cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) 5.) wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) 6.) rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) #NationalFlowerDay #MonarchButterfly #PollinatorGarden #NativePlants

Wings, wonder, and a little night magic. Join us at Prairie Oaks in Belle Plaine, MN for our first Moth Ball! Explore the night flying relatives of monarchs and other butterflies during an evening of mothing. We will explore the difference between moths and butterflies, use different ways to attract and collect moths, learn how to ID different groups of moths, and learn the important roles moths play in our ecosystem. ? ? -Date: Friday, April 18, 2025 ? -Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm ? -In-person Event | $5-$10 per person with special pricing for families? -Learn more and register here https://lnkd.in/g-H5GVdU ? #PollinatorConservation #NatureEducation #NatureSchool #EnvironmentalEducation ?

Happy First Day of Spring! Spring has arrived, bringing new life, fresh blooms, and the promise of monarchs on the move! As we welcome the season, remember that garden clean-up should wait until overnight temperatures are reliably 50°F or above to protect overwintering pollinators and beneficial insects. Trust us, our staff are just as eager to get their hands in the dirt—we’re practically counting down the days! In the meantime, you can start planning your pollinator-friendly garden! Plant native milkweed and nectar flowers, reduce pesticide use when possible, and create a welcoming habitat for monarchs and other wildlife. Explore plantmilkweed.org for resources. How are you celebrating the first day of spring? Share your favorite pollinator moments, garden photos, or pollinator photos below! #FirstDayOfSpring #MonarchButterfly #PollinatorGarden #SaveTheMonarch #PlantMilkweed #PlantDiverse #PlantNative

Join us on March 25 for Grasslands Ecology 101: Disturbance Ecology, presented by Brittany Smith, Habitat Manager, Monarch Joint Venture and Logan Shoup, MN Regional Biologist, Ducks Unlimited. Explore how disturbance ecology plays a vital role in maintaining grassland health for monarchs and other pollinators. Register for FREE at https://lnkd.in/gVEThKx3 All webinars in this series will take place at ?? 1:00 PM CT #MonarchWebinars #MonarchConservation #PollinatorConservation #NatureEducation #WildlifeWebinars #ConservationTalks #EnvironmentalEducation #PlantNative #PlantDiverse #PlantMilkweed

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the public comment period for a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The proposed rule includes species-specific protections and flexibilities to encourage butterfly conservation under section 4(d) of the ESA. The comment period will be reopened for 60 days, until May 19, 2025, to give all interested parties an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed rule published on December 12, 2024. Comments previously submitted do not need to be resubmitted as they are already incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the final listing determination. Everyone can play a role in saving the monarch butterfly. Because of the species’ general habitat use and wide distribution, all sectors of society can participate in a broad range of conservation efforts throughout the butterfly’s range. You can learn more about the monarch butterfly, the monarch listing proposal, and how to help conserve monarch butterflies at fws.gov/monarch. #ESA #Conservation #MonarchESA #MonarchButterfly #SaveTheMonarchs #PollinatorConservation #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #plantmilkweed

As we look toward spring and the arrival of cherished seasonal events such as migration and spring blooms, we are pleased to announce that Journey North will move from the UW–Madison Arboretum to the Monarch Joint Venture. This transition marks an exciting new chapter for Journey North as it finds its new home with the Monarch Joint Venture. It presents a valuable opportunity to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability and growth. Under the Monarch Joint Venture’s stewardship, Journey North will continue to thrive, engaging citizen scientists and inspiring vital conservation efforts for monarchs, pollinators, and the ecosystems they support. "Welcoming Journey North into the Monarch Joint Venture strengthens our ability to support conservation through education and citizen science. This program’s long-standing impact aligns seamlessly with our mission, and we’re excited to build on its legacy as part of our organization," says Wendy Caldwell, executive director of the Monarch Joint Venture. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting new chapter together! Read the full announcement at https://lnkd.in/gM6qzqvN #JourneyNorth #MonarchJointVenture #CitizenScience #MonarchButterfly #PollinatorConservation

? The countdown is on—only two weeks left to register for our Live Mini Monarch Essentials course! If you’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to deepen your understanding of monarch butterflies and learn how to support their conservation, this is it. Our 3-week virtual course will guide you through monarch breeding biology, migration, threats to their survival, and how YOU can take action to protect them. Whether you're looking to earn CEUs or simply want to contribute to pollinator conservation, this course has something for everyone. Sign up today and secure your spot for this one-of-a-kind educational experience! ?? Dates: April 1, 8, & 15 ? Time: 6:00-7:30 pm CT ?? Virtual Event | $75 ($60 for students, teachers, & seniors) ?? Learn more and register at https://lnkd.in/gAhM7823 #MonarchConservation #PollinatorConservation #NatureEducation #NatureSchool #monarchNECTARhub #EnvironmentalEducation #PlantNative #PlantMilkweed

NEW: In-School Field Trips! Exciting news, educators! Monarch Joint Venture is bringing hands-on, STEM-driven field trips right to your classroom. Students in grades 3-5 will explore monarch migration through an engaging glider-building investigation, testing how monarchs glide through the air on their journey to Mexico. ?? Available in the Twin Cities region ?? Book now: [email protected] Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gFFqwp2u #MonarchButterflies #STEMEducation #InSchoolFieldTrip

Join us for our upcoming March webinar, presented by Monarch Joint Venture Habitat Program Staff, on March 25! Learn about the role of disturbance in maintaining healthy grassland ecosystems and how this benefits monarchs and pollinators.? ? Register for FREE at https://lnkd.in/gVEThKx3 ? All webinars in this series will take place at ?? 1:00 PM CT? ? #MonarchWebinars #MonarchConservation #PollinatorConservation #NatureEducation #WildlifeWebinars #ConservationTalks #EnvironmentalEducation #PlantNative #PlantDiverse #PlantMilkweed?

?? Eastern Monarch Population Update ?? Are you in need of some good news? The latest survey from Mexico reports the eastern monarch butterfly population occupied 1.79 hectares this winter, a 99% increase from last season’s 0.9 hectares. While this number fluctuates, it remains below the recommended 6-hectare threshold for a sustainable migratory population highlighting the need for continued conservation action. Read the announcement at https://lnkd.in/giueKY4n Monarchs face ongoing threats, from habitat loss to climate change, emphasizing the need for collaborative conservation action. You can support monarchs by planting native milkweed and nectar-rich flowers, participating in community science, supporting pollinator-friendly practices, and contributing financially to conservation organizations. Join us in protecting this iconic species! Photo Credit: Monarchs rest on a tree in Mexico, Robert Seilheimer, MJV #MonarchCount #MonarchPopulation #MonarchMigration #Mexico #MonarchButterfly #PollinatorConservation #SaveTheMonarchs #PlantDiverse #PlantNative #PlantMilkweed