BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

The LA Times recently published an excellent article on the status of the western Monarch.
There is much serious information addressed for those of you out there who are interested or trying to help.

6 Ways Californians Can Help Save the Iconic Monarch Butterfly

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

OK, I have tropical milkweed, I usually trim it but this year due to things and not feeling great I haven't. I guess I will cut them down to the ground this afternoon. Somewhere I once read that using a sprayer with soapy water to soak the plants will clear out many of the parasites. I will look that up. If it works I will start doing that also.

I also have seeds for some different types of milkweed including the ones in this article - I will open the potting soil and get some plants started to put out.

I do have a few Monarchs visiting my yard right now and at least one caterpillar on one plant that grew up on its own through the middle of a rose bush. Note: Roses need trimmed also. My flowering plants are low on blooms now but last summer (in fact several summers in a row) I have had plenty of Monarchs and a few all year round.

All I spray my yard and plants with is water. Yes I get lots of aphids, but I also get periodic hordes of Lady Bugs and their larvae regard aphids as a buffet.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

I plant 2 kinds of milkweed around my yard. Then when I see a chryslis I protect it from the birds until it hatches best I can do.

Wes Loc: Dallas

I was teaching a photography class at the large Breckenridge Park in Richardson, Texas when the park ranger told us about an older man blocking the machine cutting weeds. The driver, who had his job at stake was adamant ... until the gentleman told him the milkweed supplied the fuel for the Monarchs before their flight to Mexico. Today the weeds grow in a protected area of the park.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

The various Butterfly groups say that our mowing of road sides etc. is definitely a part of the reduction in Monarchs. But then the clearing of trees to make farms and pastures and road sides all over the place gave milkweed more places to grow and led to a huge increase in the numbers of Monarchs in the first place. Some of the accounts by naturalists in the 19th century commented on the increase in butterflies and some other wildlife/insects/birds due to the clearing and flowers planted around farm houses.