Clark County business helps monarch butterfly population

A Clark County business will allow the public to view the life stages of a creature that’s becoming scarce.

The last decade has seen the monarch butterfly population dwindle due to several factors. Meadow View Growers is helping keep the species going and invites the public to see its efforts with two special events in September.

The business is maintaining 100 monarchs, caterpillars, chrysalises and eggs in a butterfly house, located at 755 N. Dayton-Lakeview Road. The public is welcome to observe for no cost.

“We’re interested in improving conditions for all pollinators. Our food supply is dependent on what they do,” said Earl Robinson, Meadow View Growers founder. “We also want to educate people.”

Customers can view the monarchs go from egg to adult. Not unlike birds, monarchs migrate south to Mexico for the winter.

Meadow View became a certified monarch way-station earlier this year. Way-stations are gardens with milkweed and nectar plants for caterpillars and adults to feed on.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, Meadow View will have a special open house in which a volunteer from Monarch Watch, an education, conservation and research website, will help tag its monarchs.

Meadow View will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day.

Later in the month, a release ceremony will bid farewell to the monarchs as they migrate to Mexico.

Robinson said a date for the release wasn’t yet available, but to watch Meadow View’s Facebook page,

for updates.

National Trail Parks and Recreation District has also done its part to build awareness of the species with its Monarch Butterfly Festival the past two summers and has planted milkweed in several of its properties.

Meadow View also sells products such as milkweed, nectar plants and other host plants and perennials that attract pollinators to backyards. That’s one way anyone can help the effort to preserve the butterflies, Robinson said.

“If we can get people educated now, they can be ready for next year when they migrate back,” he said.

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