Known for their stately colors and elegant wings, millions of monarch butterflies travel more than 2,000 miles from across North America to Mexico each fall, where they cluster in about a dozen small areas.
Unfortunately, the monarch population has declined from 556 million in 2004 to a historic low of 33.5 million in 2014. This is due to the butterflies’ dramatic loss of habitat and food sources, including the milkweed plant.
As part of a national effort to stave off the decline of monarch butterflies, The North Carolina Arboretum will host its fourth annual Monarch Butterfly Day on Saturday, September 8, 2018, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm inside the Arboretum’s Education Center and throughout its gardens. As part of this free event, participants will learn ways to help monarch butterflies, have the opportunity to purchase milkweed, create make-and-take butterfly crafts and witness monarch butterfly releases.
Schedule of Events
- 10 a.m. – Event begins; crafts, seed bombs and temporary tattoo station. Exhibits from participating organizations (Asheville Greenworks, Cradle of Forestry, Kids in Parks and monarchlover.org). Milkweed sale opens inside the Education Center.
- 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – “Build a Better Monarch Waystation” Adult Education class in the Education Center Library (registration required).
- 10:30 a.m AND 1 p.m. – Presentation “A Year in the Life of a Monarch Butterfly” by Kim Bailey in the Education Center. Take an in-depth look at the monarch butterfly’s life cycle, epic migration and habitat needs. Learn how growing milkweed and providing a succession of nectar plants through the season not only helps monarchs and other pollinators, but also offers amazing opportunities to enjoy nature in your own backyard!
- 2 p.m. – Monarch Butterfly Release in the Outdoor Events Garden
- 4 p.m. – Event concludes
Please note that although this is event is free, standard Arboretum parking fees apply.
Can’t make it to Monarch Butterfly Day? Come watch a special screening of “Flight of the Butterflies” followed by a Q&A with Estela Romero on September 22 at 6:00 pm. Visit the NC Arboretum website for additional information.