water

You can help Monarchs!!!

Monarch butterflies are one of the most recognized butterflies throughout America. They make an amazing journey each year from Canada to Mexico. In the fall Monarch’s migrate from Canada to Mexico, and then in the spring they migrate from Mexico to Canada. During these times the Monarch breeds and lays their eggs on milkweed plants. Milkweed is the ONLY plant that Monarch caterpillars will feed on, making milkweed an extremely important plant. Both milkweed and Monarch Butterflies population is dwindling. With this decline, the Ohio Division of Wildlife and other partners have formed the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative (OPHI). OPHI has been educating the public and trying to gain more awareness of the milkweed decline.

OPHI and Ohio’s Soil & Water Conservation Districts have partnered together in the Annual Milkweed Pod Collection going on from September 1, 2016 through October 30, 2016. Here at Cuyahoga Soil & Water, we will have a collection bin outside the office for Common Milkweed pod drop off. We are located at 6100 West Canal Rd, Valley View, OH 44125. We are in the office from 8am to 4:30 pm, but will have a drop off bin available for after hours.

Pod Collecting Instructions:

When collecting seed pods from a Common Milkweed plant it is best to pick when they are dry, gray, or brown in color. If the seam pops with gentle pressure they can be picked. It is best to store your picked pods in a paper bag, avoid using plastic bags as they tend to collect and hold moisture. Store your seeds in a dry cool area until you are available to drop them off. Please mark your bags with the county they were picked in, as well as the date and time.

Once the pods have been collected they will be processed by OPHI partners and all of the seeds will be used to establish new milkweed plants and create additional habitats for the Monarch Butterfly here in Ohio.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to call me at 216-524-6580 ext. 10 or email me at mdavid@cuyahogaswcd.org.

Blog author: Megan David, Administrative Assistant

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