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Full Version: Millions of Monarch Butterflies have died
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This is such a heartbreak. The monarchs had declined terribly. Efforts to stop logging in Mexico and to plant milk weed along the migration path have paid off. The population is fragile, but recovering.

Now the effects of severe spring storms have been accessed and millions of butterflies have died before they even started their journey.
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...8JpKGykJcQ

This is a terrible set back. I only hope that enough butterflies make it here where they can lay eggs in peace.

My monarch count this year is 3. Last year it was one. I even saw one in my yard. Now we just have to hope that the butterflies can recover in spite of the loses.
I hope the Milkweed planting will help support the Monarch butterflies, after the loss of those large areas of forest.

I have never seen one here (I don't think) in UK. They are such beautiful creatures.
It seems that the Monarch is primarily a North American butterfly.

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...UbR0ywyeOQ

They are described as an accidental visitor to the UK. You might go your whole life and never see one.

There used to be dozens of butterflies at a time in the garden where I grew up. Even a few years ago I had multiple butterflies in my yard at once.  Last year I saw one and it was far from my place. This year I have seen three and one was in my yard.

I think the milkweed project is working. Also many people are planting butterfly friendly gardens. The loss of so many butterflies in Mexico is staggering, but if we keep up our work here, we can help over come the losses. This year more than ever we need to work hard for the butterflies.  I have a number of milkweed plants growing and seeding. I even have some butterfly bushes growing. They are still small, but they are a start and next year they will be bigger.  I hope someday to look out and see many monarchs flying around my bushes. Until then I will feel a knot of fear inside for the future of the whole species.
Well, from seeing only one last year to seeing three this year may show that they are coming back from the brink gradually, thanks to the awareness nowadays, and the milkweed planting in Toronto (and in your garden!) Hopefully next year it will be six....and so on.
I understand that the efforts of many have made a difference. It is the cities that are doing it. What we do for the monarchs also helps the bees. We have become aware of our need for pollinators and we have acted on it.  We have small front yards and people have taken out the grass and put in flowers and shrubs to help the pollinators and the birds. I try to have a succession of flowers blooming from early spring right through to November. The Butterfly bushes are just blooming now. My different shrubs produce berries at different times. People around me are doing the same.

Some day we will sit back and watch the Monarchs flying in numbers. That is an amazing sight.

Still when I hear about a big Monarch loss I want to cry. We are doing are part here. We need Mexico to protect them over the winter. Is that too much to ask?