🦋SAMO Fund is Growing the Local Milkweed Population!🦋

Although in recent years, the Monarch population had sunk to an all-time low, due mainly to increased use of pesticides and the decrease of native milkweed plants, in the last two years, the population has actually been increasing! According to Sunset Magazine, over 300,000 butterflies were counted in 2022, compared with less than 2,000 in 2020. Locations in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo saw the highest numbers of butterflies in the 26th Western Monarch Count.

Santa Monica Mountains Fund’s Native Plant Nursery has a free Native Milkweed Givewaway program. Participants learn about the relationship between milkweed and the monarch’s life cycle, and the planting and care of native milkweed. Everyone who attends is given 5 milkweed plants. During the past two years roughly 36,000 milkweed plants have been given away to primarily underserved communities, thus increasing the native milkweed population in the area. Increasing the amount of native milkweed plants supports the increase in monarch numbers.

At SAMO Fund, we are extremely proud of how the Native Milkweed Giveaway has helped in improving Monarch Butterfly population numbers.

The Xerces Society, who are responsible for the annual survey, list a number of ways you can help to increase the monarch population:

💐~ Plant native milkweed plants for monarch caterpillars to feed on

💐~ Plant a diverse array of native nectar plants for the monarchs to feed

💐~ Reduce or eliminate the use of harmful pesticides

💐~ Encourage legislators and representatives to support policies that aid in helping monarchs and other struggling species

💐~ Support and take part in community-based programs that track monarchs and distribute native plants

SAMO Fund needs everyone’s support, and funding, to maintain our community-based foundations. Learn more about our Monarch and Milkweed Program here: samofund.org/milkweed