Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm

12/31/2022

12/29/2022

Dr. Gerald R. Rising, 95, naturalist, professor and writer who encouraged people to enjoy nature

DR.RISING was a colleague and a great friend. If anyone has a pic or two they'd like to share , send it to our email, [email protected] and we will include them in tribute we're putting together for a celebration of life planed at TIFFT Nature Preserve on 1/23/23. Thank You to TIFFT Nature Preserve and Dan Herbeck from the Buffalo News for their generous contributions to celebrate this amazing gentleman's contributions to WNY.

Jan. 15, 1927 - Dec. 9, 2022

12/26/2022

Hungry Birds...Clarence NY

Don't forget about our feathered friends during and after the storm, ...🙂🐦

12/15/2022

12/10/2022

12/08/2022

Join us Saturday at Lavocats Family Greenhouse for this AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING event .
This wonderful story of how Eastern Monarch Butterfly and Native Plant Farm came to be will be available along with many other vendors and gifts in time for the Holidays

12/08/2022

Join us this Saturday, 12/10 for AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING of newly published children's book, "Davey's Butterfly Farm", at Lavocats Nursery and Family Greenhouse.
Many other local businesses will be participating with other great gifts for your holiday shopping.

10/18/2022

Response to EPA Pesticide Coated Seed Decision

Petition for response to EPA
Pesticide Coated Seed Decision

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeO5sBHQfGMTxfpMj9vfr4x0L9nsabOGtGO8Bfp2kl2QEWiVw/viewform

The Honorable Michal Freedhoff, Ph.D. Assistant Administrator Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Edward Messina Director Office of Pesticide Programs Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washi...

10/11/2022

Still a few Monarchs hanging around. 10/11/2022

Beautiful couple of days for late season native Monarch butterflies 👍🦋
Join Eastern Monarch Butterfly and Native Plant Farm at Masterson's Honey Festival Saturday and Sunday October 15th and 16th in East Aurora, NY
We will be doing a presentation about Planting with native plants to assist with our Monarch Butterfly Restoration projects.
Join us , it's also a great time to plant our native milkweed that we will have available to plant for this spring.

09/26/2022

Join us Saturday October 1st from 3pm to 4pm at the Clarence Public Library for author/ illustrator book signing of the newly published children's book, Davey's Butterfly Farm ...not to soon to be thinking about Christmas, books will be available for purchase.
Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm will be at the Clarence Hollow farmers market Saturday from 8AM to 1pm.

09/19/2022

The Riverline Family Fun | WNYLC

Saturday, September 24th, come on down to Moore and South Park St in Buffalo and and learn about this exciting new project about to begin .
Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm will be there doing a butterfly tagging demonstration with native migrating Monarch Butterflies along with other family friendly activities.
Be apart of Buffalo's transition to a healthier ecology, biodiverse, and environmentally friendly landscape.... The Buffalo Riverline.

Family fun activities including a butterfly tagging and release (weather  permitting) thanks to Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm

09/16/2022

We will be at the Clarence Hollow farmers market Saturday from 8AM to 1pm, and then Clarence center fall fest at the 4 corners in Clarence Center from 4pm until 9pm. Come on out should be a beautiful evening

Study Shows Residue in Retail Milkweed

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A new study shows that milkweed plants bought at retail nurseries across the U.S. contain harmful pesticide residues. From the study's abstract: "In this study, we collected leaf samples from 235 milkweed plants purchased at 33 retail nurseries across the US to screen for pesticides. Across all samples, we detected 61 different pesticides with an average of 12.2 (±5.0) compounds per plant. While only 9 of these compounds have been experimentally tested on monarch caterpillars, 38 % of samples contained a pesticide above a concentration shown to have a sub-lethal effect for monarchs." Learn more here from Xerces Society and check out our Milkweed & Wildflower Vendor Map - to help you find native plants in your region.

09/16/2022

Study Shows Residue in Retail Milkweed

­

A new study shows that milkweed plants bought at retail nurseries across the U.S. contain harmful pesticide residues. From the study's abstract: "In this study, we collected leaf samples from 235 milkweed plants purchased at 33 retail nurseries across the US to screen for pesticides. Across all samples, we detected 61 different pesticides with an average of 12.2 (±5.0) compounds per plant. While only 9 of these compounds have been experimentally tested on monarch caterpillars, 38 % of samples contained a pesticide above a concentration shown to have a sub-lethal effect for monarchs." Learn more here from Xerces Society and check out our Milkweed & Wildflower Vendor Map - to help you find native plants in your region.

09/15/2022

Monarch Wing Hack

Occasionally you may find a Monarch with the spine of its wing broken, part of its wing then flops around impeding its flight.
For those of us having tags I've experimented using the do not use tag as a hack to repair the spine and found it works well.
I release this Monarch and it took off as good as new😊👍🦋

09/15/2022

Eastern Monarch Butterfly migration Buffalo NY

We were out tagging Monarchs at the Buffalo outerharbor yesterday, looks to be a promising year for the Eastern population.

09/13/2022

Millions of monarch butterflies are passing through Chicago as part of their annual 3,000-mile migration

Looks like it's going to be a great year! 😊👍

Monarch butterflies from as north as Canada are passing through Chicago as they migrate to wintering grounds in the mountains of Mexico.

09/08/2022

Events

We will also be at the Clarence Hollow farmers market Saturday from 8AM to 1pm with milkweed ready for planting.

Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm will be doing a presentation and have a table set up 3pm . We will probably have a few migrating Monarchs for a tagging demonstration 😊🦋🦋

09/06/2022

Still have late season larvae out there. If your thinking about cutting down your milkweed, it would be best to leave it for September. Monarchs are starting to migrate now but there are always a few lagging behind.
I leave mine until next June, warblers and Oriales use the stringy outer bark of the dead stems for nesting material in the spring .

09/05/2022

Tropical Milkweed—a No-Grow

I lnow the Monarchs like this Plant, but that could be the problem, also, this is not a perennial in WNY.. plant Aslepias tuberosa instead.

Milkweed is in demand, and that demand has been filled in recent years by tropical milkweed, a non-native species. But is planting tropical milkweed potentially doing more harm than good?

09/04/2022

These are a few of the butterfly wings brought to us by a concerned butterfly enthusiasts .
Approximately 20 pairs mostly Monarchs. Each year we hear stories of butterfly wings under the purple butterfly bush .
Now is the beginning of the Eastern Monarch Butterfly migration.....the non native butterfly bush is not something we advise planting and attracts an unnatural amount of Monarch Butterflies which favor purple flowers . The Chinese mantis has learned this , one analogy might be the way hawks use bird feeders. If you have a butterfly bush already and want to keep it, that's your choice but maybe check on occasion for Chinese mantis lying in wait . We recommend relocating mantis and their egg sacs to avoid over population of these stealth predators .

09/04/2022

Mourning Cloak, playing dead.

This hardy little butterfly, over winters as a butterfly. The mourning Cloak uses willows as one of its host plants, and is a pretty good actor, it plays dead when threatened but when the coast is clear, takes off like a bat out hell .

09/03/2022

Invasive plant impacting monarch butterflies

That you Terry Belke and wgrz 2 the outdoors for putting the spotlight on this invasive invader.

Swallow-wort was imported to the U.S. in the 1800s, now the invasive plant is widespread and causing damage.

09/02/2022

Join us Saturday at the Clarence Hollow farmers market. Great time to plant milkweed for next year. We have different varieties all grown from locally collected native seeds. 8AM to 1pm

08/26/2022

Native Mt.Mint

This Saturday is our annual Monarch Butterfly Release/ Environmental Conservation Day at the CLARENCE HOLLOW FARMERS MARKET . The Monarch Butterfly release will be around10:30 or 11AM. Come on by and visit with some of our colleagues and learn about invasive plants from our friends at PRISM , learn about native plants and what you can do to help with Eastern Monarch Butterfly Recovery with us, and get information on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge from Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, just a few of environmental organizations that will be attending.

08/19/2022

We will be at the Clarence Hollow farmers market Saturday from 8AM to 1pm.
Included in our native plants this week will be wetland plants so if you have a pond or wet area on your property these plants are great. Wild native blue flag Iris, white turtle heads, cardinal flower

08/05/2022

We will be at the Clarence Hollow farmers market Saturday from 8AM to 1pm 8/6. Come on down and pickup some native milkweed and other native plants for the Monarch Butterfly. We also will have native wild Monarch eggs for those familiar on raising Monarch larvae. You must have knowledge and experience and access to a supply of pesticide free milkweed.

08/03/2022

Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm

For those engaging in our Monarch Butterfly Restoration efforts, we suggest that you stop collecting eggs around August 20th for our latitude, which is 42. We don't want people ending up with caterpillars or Adult butterflies to far past migration season . You will find eggs still being deposited, even caterpillars here and there late fall, but nature isn't perfect and unless you are planing a trip to Mexico and have an extra ticket, lol, best to let nature take its course .

08/01/2022

Milkweed great for all pollinators

Monarchs don't need more milkweed..... ?
Well actually they do.
Sometimes news articles are published and folks get confused and that's why we're here to clear things up.
All milkweed is what we call a host plant as well as a nectar plant for all pollinators including the Eastern Monarch. Milkweed is very, very important for the survival of this iconic Lepidoptera. So while restoring many native plants will definitely help and improve our ecosystem and greatly improve the pollinator population , Don't Give Up on planting more milkweed, it will be decades before we can replace what was destroyed by the human population.
So if you would like more information regarding Monarch Butterfly recovery or beneficial native plants, contact us , Eastern Monarch Butterfly and Native Plant Farm, or reach out through Native Plants of WNY Collaborative, of which we are a founding member .

07/31/2022

Thank You to all the wonderful environmental organizations, Gardens Buffalo Niagara and The Elmwood Village Farmers market that came out today to participate in the Monarch Butterfly release/ Environmental Conservation Day.
And to all the enthusiastic people that brought pictures and stories about the beautiful Monarchs they have raised and released in WNY. Because of you, our Monarch Butterfly Restoration projects have been a huge success .
For over 20 years Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm has empowered people to participate in their own environment and it's making a difference, THANK YOU!

07/23/2022

ESA listing decision for the monarch - Monarch Watch

ESA listing decision for the monarch - Monarch Watch

In a press release today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced its decision with respect to the petition to declare the monarch a “threatened” species under the Endangered Species Act: “After a thorough assessment of the monarch butterfly’s status, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ...

07/22/2022

We will be at the Clarence Hollow farmers market Saturday 7/23 from 8AM to 1pm .
Ever wonder why it is you can't find a spicebush swallowtail chrysalis on a spicebush...
It took me awhile but finally located one, the chrysalis is well camouflaged.

07/21/2022

Town Hall: Monarch butterfly population numbers in WNY

Town Hall: Monarch butterfly population numbers in WNY

Environmentalists say the population of monarch butterflies in North America has declined between 22% and 72% over 10 years, depending on the measurement method.

07/08/2022

We'll be af the Clarence Hollow farmers market Saturday from 8AM to 1pm

06/23/2022

A BIG thank you to this beautiful soul, Charlotte Johnson for raising over 1000.00 for our Eastern Monarch Butterfly Recovery efforts. Charlotte chose to raise money for her 8th year birthday celebration to donate to Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm, and a fantastic job she did!
5 or so years ago her mother bought her first milkweed from us and began planting native plants for Monarch Butterflies .
Since then, she began teaching young Charlotte about finding Monarch eggs on milkweed and raising butterflies to release back into the environment, this is what inspires us and is exactly why EMBF still continues today.
Funds raised through native plant sales, seeds, presentations and other wildlife related items help sustain our efforts to continue to improve the WNY environment and ecology for all.
A quote from Davey's Butterfly Farm...
"Children are the saplings of tomorrow's forest. They are the wild flower seeds cast by the wind for future meadows.
Nurture them with compassion and understanding for the environment, and sow into them the importance of coexisting with the natural world around us . "

06/11/2022

Photos from Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm's post

05/30/2022

Join us Saturday June 4th, Eastern Monarch Butterfly/ Native Plant Farm will be joining a wonderful group of environmental organizations to promote planting a sustainable future for our planet.
We will also be representing the PCA, Pollinator Conservation Association as well, which I am a board member. 🦋🦋🦋

05/27/2022

We will be at the Clarence Hollow farmers market 6/11, Saturday from 8AM to 1pm ..come on down and for your native plants to help support our Monarch Butterfly recovery efforts in WNY.

05/24/2022

Monarch Population Status - Monarch Watch

Monarch Population Status - Monarch Watch

The WWF-Telmex Telcel Foundation Alliance, in collaboration with the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR), announced the total forest area occupied by overwintering monarch col...

05/24/2022

Eastern Monarch Population Count Released

Eastern Monarch Population Count Released

Our mission is to protect monarchs and their migration by collaborating with partners to deliver habitat conservation, education, and science across the U.S.

05/22/2022

The Monarch Butterfly’s Nemesis: Black Swallow-wort - Harpswell Heritage Land Trust

A plant you don't want to take hold on your property, removing seed pods Before they open and are still green, will help reduce infestation if it has already been identified in your location.

https://hhltmaine.org/monarch-butterflys-nemesis-black-swallow-wortW

By Becky Gallery Everyone recognizes the colorful Monarch butterfly, flitting about the garden. Its colorful orange and black body warns birds to stay away. What makes the monarch so unappetizing to birds? The adult monarch lays its eggs on milkweed, which the newly hatched larva eat. The monarch ca...