Senior Travel Site During Butterfly Migration

Great Place for Older Adults to Observe & Conserve Nature

Nov 11, 2009

There is an ever-increasing need to provide butterfly habitats as current ones are disappearing at an alarming rate. Many seniors are planting butterfly gardens.

It doesn't take a huge area to plant a butterfly-friendly area. This offers a great activity for older adults to do with the grandchildren, thereby starting not only plants, but also planting conservation habits in the younger generations.

Seniors Visit the Meadows at Wildseed Farms

Located near Fredricksburg, Texas, Wildseed Farms maintains 80 acres of Flower Fields, Display Gardens and even Trial Plots to contribute to ever-increasing knowledge about ways to assure enough butterfly habitats. They attract monarchs as well as other butterflies and hummingbirds.

Wildseed Farms hosts several celebrations and events to develop more awareness of conservation. Older adults particularly appreciate the wide walking trails which are wheelchair accessible and provide covered sitting areas for resting and observing. They also have a Butterfly Haus open seven days a week.

Why Monarch Butterflies Are At Risk

Due to both residential and business development encroaching on their habitats, the number of milkweed and nectar sources is being compromised. Also herbicides and pesticides take a significant toll on the butterfly-friendly plants needed for monarch butterfly use.

Since such reduction in butterfly habitats is happening at a lightning speed of over 9 square miles per day, the need to create and maintain monarch-friendly areas and nectar sources is vital to their survival. Most seniors remember a time when there was no shortage of needed plants. This may explain why older adults are making a significant contribution to butterfly conservation efforts.

Plants Which Attract Butterflies and Hummingbirds

According to Wildseed Farms Market Center, these are a few of the plants, in addition to milkweed, recommended to include in a landscape or garden in order to attract butterflies:

One way to decide which plant to use in a particular area is to ask the local plant nursery which would qualify as native plants. Native plants would be drought resistant, a feature helpful in maintaining such gardens over time.

Monarch Waystations to Help in Conservation of Butterfly Population

These are being created to offset the decreasing number of milkweed plants and other nectar sources. Even small butterfly-friendly gardens can make a real difference in monarch conservation. This urgent need for plants can be included in a flower bed, community garden, or a registered butterfly habitat.

Older adults who want to help can team up with friends, family, church or community groups, and especially grandchildren or other available young people.

Seniors and Boomers Certifying A Monarch Habitat

The International Monarch Waystation Registry can certify established habitats. They also utilize observations of gardeners to help monitor butterfly population counts. This certification comes with an ID number and a weather-proof sign. One goal of certification is to spread the word about the vital need to create monarch waystations.

A great travel site for seniors during butterfly migration is Wildseed Farms. Older adults can observe and conserve nature in a comfortable setting there. Although development has brought reduction of habitats and put monarchs at risk, a number of seniors spend time in butterfly gardens and waystations to help preserve monarch habitats. Some of these older adults attend celebrations, educational, and tagging events at the Wildseed Farms and return home to plant gardens and establish and certify waystations.

Source: Monarch Waystations brochure from Monarch Watch organization, and Wildseed Farms Catalog for 2009.

The copyright of the article Senior Travel Site During Butterfly Migration in Senior Leisure Activities is owned by Hildra Tague. Permission to republish Senior Travel Site During Butterfly Migration in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.