08/25/2026
🦋 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆?
Take a look at this map. Extreme heat and rapidly drying conditions are affecting a large part of the central U.S. at the same time Monarchs are beginning that incredible journey south to Mexico.
We talk a lot about planting milkweed, and we should. Milkweed is absolutely essential because it's what Monarchs need to produce the next generation.
But there's another part of this that I don't think we talk about nearly enough.
🌼 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
As Monarchs make their way south, they need flowers all along the route to replenish their energy and build the fat reserves that help carry them to Mexico and sustain them through the winter.
That's what concerns me when I look at a weather pattern like this one. In a year with prolonged heat and drought, we can end up with fewer flowers, shorter bloom periods and less nectar available at exactly the time the Monarchs need it most.
And that's something we can actually do something about.
We can plant more native, drought-tough perennials that don't just look great in May and June, but can make it through an Ozarks summer and still be blooming in September and October.
Goldenrods, asters, ironweed, blazing star and mountain mint are some great examples.
We can't do anything about a heat wave or make it rain. But we 𝗰𝗮𝗻 make sure there are more places for these butterflies to stop and refuel along the way.
So when you're adding plants this fall or thinking about next year's pollinator garden, here's something I'd encourage you to consider:
Don't just ask, “What will look good in the spring?”
Also ask, 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝘁, 𝗱𝗿𝘆 𝗢𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲?
Plant native. Plant for fall. Plant for drought.
🦋 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆.
