We are fortunate not only to be located in an excellent growing area but also to be located almost equidistant from two of the 25-30 California monarch butterfly overwintering sites. To our northwest is Natural Bridges State Park. which is located 27.81 northwest from our property. The other is near Pacific Grove, "Butterfly Town, USA" which is 33.51 miles southwest. Located there is the over wintering site called the Monarch Sanctuary.

During the Fall and Spring migrations, the monarchs stop, nectar and lay eggs on the milkweed plants. We have joined the Monarch Watch Waystation Program and we Waystation number, #244. Because we have over 2,000 milkweed plants in the ground it is getting to look like a "Monarch Bed and Breakfast" with monarchs hanging around, refreshing themselves before continuing their journey to Natural Bridges or Pacific Grove.

Which one they fly we do not know, however, due to Miss Helen Johnson of the Monarch Alert Program we have been provided with tags that hopefully will answer this question.

These links are provided to help you learn more about Monarch butterflies, butterfly gardening and how to provide milkweed plants for the Monarch butterfly.

PROVISO: Many of the sites referenced here on this links page are site-specific to the Mid-West and the Eastern part of the United States. This is due largely to the much larger monarch populations east of the Rockies, and the fact that the monarch community of devotees, scientists, citizen-scientists and organizations in those parts of the country are long lived, well organized and very active. Care needs to be taken, to apply the information provided to our western regions and our localized situations. In the meantime, Douglas-Michel Butterflyplants is actively working with organizations and people devoted to promulgating the study of the "Western Monarch" and promoting the welfare of the monarchs west of the Rockies. At the same time, Douglas-Michel Butterflyplants, seeks participation with monarch projects and individuals on the Eastern and Midwestern sectors of the U.S as well as those in Mexico and Canada who support the welfare of the Monarch Butterfly.