Monarch Waystations
I have been lucky to oversee the Monarch Waystation Restoration Project at Reflection Riding. At Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center we have two Monarch Waystations that we are restoring. We have workdays once a month and people can volunteer to help us in weed wrangling, invasive plant removal, and we also plant native nectar and host plants for the monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Twice a year we also make and throw out native seed bombs throughout the Waystations. This is a multi-year restoration project. The long-term goal for the Monarch Waystations will be to educate the community on the importance of monarch conservation.
Monarch Waystations are places that provide resources necessary for monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration. Without milkweeds throughout their spring and summer breeding areas in North America, monarchs would not be able to produce the successive generations that culminate in the migration each fall. Similarly, without nectar from flowers these fall migratory monarch butterflies would be unable to make their long journey to overwintering grounds in Mexico. The need for host plants for larvae and energy sources for adults applies to all monarch and butterfly populations around the world. By creating and maintaining a Monarch Waystation we are contributing to monarch conservation. This effort will help ensure the preservation of the species and the continuation of the spectacular monarch migration phenomenon.
The Monarch Waystations will also provide ways for volunteers to get involved with Community Science Programs. Community Science (sometimes referred to as “participatory science” or “citizen science”) is a form of research that provides everyone—regardless of their background—an opportunity to contribute meaningful data to further our scientific understanding of key issues. By engaging community members, researchers can collect a larger amount of data, and often span more geographic regions, in a shorter amount of time. In turn, this data informs larger conservation efforts. It’s also a great opportunity for participants to learn more about species that interest them. It’s a win-win situation for all of us—including invertebrates! A few of the Community Science Programs that I hope to get volunteers interested in are The Monarch Tagging Program, The Monarch Larva Monitoring Program, Journey North, and the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program.
Please come prepared to work with close-toed shoes, long sleeves and pants, a hat, water, sunscreen, and anything else you might need to stay comfortable for a morning of work outdoors. If you have your own gardening tools, bring them as well! We are excited to spend the morning supporting pollinator health with you!
If you would like to volunteer for any of the Monarch Waystation Workdays please visit the Reflection Riding website and sign up. Please note you will need to read and sign the volunteer waiver from Reflection Riding before attending.
Where: Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center
Address: 400 Garden Road, Chattanooga, TN 37419
Parking: Please park at the Native Plant Nursery
Monarch Waystations Workday Schedule
- July 27, 2024, 8:00 am – 11:00 am
- September 21, 2024, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- October 26, 2024, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- November 23, 2024, 9:00 am – 11:00 am