Last fall the Land Trust partnered with Central Oregon Community College, Bend Parks and Recreation District, and the Old Mill District to plant hundreds of native milkweed and other pollinator plants throughout the community. Milkweed provides critical habitat for Western monarch butterflies and the Land Trust is working to conserve and create more habitat for monarch butterflies.

In Central Oregon, planting in the fall gives native plants the best chance at survival. Though, it also means we have to wait through the winter to see if they'll grow again in the spring! Last week we took a peek at the milkweed planted near the COCC bookstore, and it is doing great! With a few expected weeds here and there, the milkweed has sprung back to life and continues to grow. In the next coming years, these plants that are still young can provide important food for monarch caterpillars and will have beautiful pink blossoms for pollinators to find. We can't wait to see the growth and hope they bring as they come back year after year!

 

Learn More:

• Plant milkweed for monarchs!
• Monarch butterfly conservation in Central Oregon
• Creating a butterfly garden
• Native plant restoration continues at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve