Something special is fluttering into Nevada County- Monarchs, Meadows & Milkweed oh my!
It all began in an ice cream shop. Peggy Wright (owner of Treats), Mary Cahill, Cathy Wilcox, Robin Milam, and several BYLT staff members started meeting at Treats to brainstorm ways we could help the declining monarch butterfly population. There’s something so magical and uniquely special about monarchs. We all love these beautiful creatures, and so many others do too. As their numbers continue to dwindle, we felt the urgency to act.
BYLT’s Monarch Meadow project is part of the Planting the Seed initiative, a community-based effort to transform Nevada County into a monarch flyway. We’re so excited that this program is starting to take flight, pun intended! This program wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support and enthusiasm of students, Rotary Clubs, native plant nurseries, and community members!
As Monarch Meadow Adopters, local schools are taking part in every step of creating and caring for their meadow:
- Site Visits: Explore their Monarch Meadow, learn to identify native plants and invasive species, and get familiar with the area.
- Prep Work Days: Clear the site and remove invasive plants to prepare for planting.
- Milkweed Planting Day!
- Follow-Up Visits: Monitor the meadow’s growth and see firsthand the impact of their efforts on the local ecosystem.
We also want to give a huge shoutout to the people and school groups who are making all of this possible!
Monarch Meadow Adopters:
- Twin Ridges Home Study Charter School – Adopter of Deer Creek Tribute Trail Monarch Meadow
- Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning – Adopter of Hirschman’s Pond Trail Monarch Meadow
- Grass Valley Charter School (2nd Grade Class) – Adopter of Adam Ryan Preserve Monarch Meadow
- Sierra College Ecology Club in partnership with Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation and the City of Grass Valley – Adopters of Litton Trail Monarch Meadow
Double Dogwood Native Nursery & The Feral Land Project:
- Elyse & Justin – Our amazing advisors and partners helping set our monarch meadows up for success! Their native plant knowledge, guidance, and support mean the world to us! To learn more about their incredible work, visit Double Dogwood Native Nursery & The Feral Land Project.
Community Members:
Mike Wallace (aka Mike the bee guy!) who also happens to be the milkweed man! He’s super generously donating milkweed seeds of all four native Nevada county varieties that he grows in his backyard!
Loren Swift & Scott Merritt are key supporters of our Monarch Meadow Adopter service project! One of the meadows, near the Deer Creek Tribute Trail, is actually located on their property. Because of their kindness, we’re able to provide more habitat for monarchs and other native species to thrive!
Plant the Seed: Monarch Butterfly Art Show
The Monarch Butterfly Art Show opened on February 1 at Treats Ice Cream Shop in Nevada City. Seventeen local artists contributed paintings, drawings, collages, and sculptures inspired by monarch butterflies and their caterpillars.
All proceeds from the sale of artwork will be used to purchase native milkweed, which will be distributed through BYLT, Mike the Bee Guy, and other community projects that promote the planting of milkweed throughout western Nevada County.
A gathering of monarch butterflies is called a “flutter,” and this exhibition brings together a vibrant flutter of artistic voices in support of monarch conservation.
“Treats has always been about community, creativity, and caring for the place we live,” said Peggy Wright, artist, organizer of the show, and co-owner of Treats Ice Cream. “This art show lets us celebrate the beauty of monarchs while directly supporting the simple, powerful act of planting milkweed to help them survive.”
The exhibition was juried by LeeAnn Brook, who selected Katie Carter, Mara Sprier, Lauren Fogiel, and Bob Branstrom to receive Juror’s Awards. The show will be on display at Treats Ice Cream, 210 Main Street, Nevada City, for the entire month of February.
BYLT’s Monarch Meadow Project is part of the Planting the Seed initiative, a community-based effort to transform Nevada County into a monarch flyway. Proceeds from artwork sales will fund milkweed seed for school seed-planting education programs, BYLT’s restoration projects, and Mike the Bee Guy’s educational classes.
Milkweed is critical to monarch survival—it is the only plant where monarchs lay their eggs and the primary food source for monarch caterpillars. Artists who care deeply about the monarch and its life cycle were invited to participate in this show.
The public is invited to view—and purchase—these unique monarch butterfly art pieces at Treats throughout February.
