COULD WE LOSE THE MONARCH MIGRATION IN OUR LIFETIME? YES Monarchs need your help NOW! According to early reports of over wintering Monarchs in Mexico, this year marks another decrease in the number of over wintering Monarchs in the Mexican mountains 96% loss of Historic Migration numbers…and we have only known about their over wintering sites for a little more than 25 years!. There have been back to back 50% declines in their overwintering numbers. Researchers are right to be worried we may lose a larger part of their migration this year if immediate action is not taken to protect their dwindling food supplies and safe migratory corridors... A little history - In 1991, over 75% of the wintering Monarchs from North America froze to death in Mexico as a result of three days of rain and sub-freezing conditions. This is when the Live Monarch Foundation was formed to ensure Monarchs would fill our skies for future generations. One person decided to take action, plant a seed and inspire others to learn how to do the same. Over the years we have grown to include thousands of individuals just like you that take action to help the Monarchs, creating refuges for them across North America and around the world. Monarch numbers initially showed some recovery. Research by many has taught us that a nationwide shortage of milkweed coupled with freak weather patterns destroy habitat and are causing problems for the Monarchs every year and we are literally losing ground. Has the weather become more or less stable in the last few years? Natural events are not the only challenges that face the Monarch and are not the main cause of their decline. Widespread pesticide application and genetically modified crops cover important parts of the Monarch's migratory path and serve as killing fields for any Monarchs that pass through these millions of acres of toxins and biological agents that kill them and their young. They are unintended casualties in a war to protect crops. Are our Monarchs worth our efforts to protect? Do we even know the total effects on our environment from the use of these agents? Monarchs and Milkweed are obvious signs that we need to take action to protect our environment. They show us the fragility and interconnectedness of our world and that the actions of some can have impacts on all of us. We are all part of the problem through the global effort to harness and control Nature in the search for profit. We must research the origins of all our wants and needs to ensure that the products and organizations we support are a true benefit and not a source of misery to the resources used to create them. Our choice to know the source of our purchases gives us the real power to decide what types of people we support and together control over the manner of production used. Please promote the sharing of information so that we can make informed choices and change the world with every one. The Monarch habitat must be protected now to ensure their survival, before we see the day when this miracle of nature is only a memory. The Monarchs need your help NOW. Please plant seeds and help to ensure their survival. A Milkweed in every yard! You have the power to instantly change the world ! Plant a seed today and change your backyard. Educate yourself about the effects of your actions. Take responsibility for your actions. Plant an idea by sharing your knowledge. Educate others and ask them to take responsibility for their actions. Make the decision to think, act, and be responsible for yourself and all you impact. Choose not to support ideas or actions that harm our environment or others. You are the most important part of any solution! SEED UPDATE 2020 - We have a small stockpile of fresh Milkweed seeds right now and thanks to you and the continued sharing of our mission on social media we are sending out many envelopes every day. When your seeds arrive within 7-14 days, make sure you have exactly what you needed, Please contact us if there are any questions and please share your seeds, this page and our program with others so we can continue to get the word out. We are already ahead of last years pace when we went through 5 million seeds in several months. Through your efforts to share information and materials with others you are the most important part of our campaign and we thank you. Every Monarch that can find a safe milkweed leaf to lay an egg on thanks you. Every caterpillar that has enough Milkweed to eat and a bit of cover from predators thanks you. Every newly emerged Monarch spreading their wings for the first time and seeing our world from above and your backyard that sheltered it, thanks you too. Thank You for every Tweet, Facebook post, email, conversation, and seed you share with your Friends and Family. This effort is directly responsible for the growing of Millions of new HOMES and FOOD for Millions of Monarchs across North America and around the globe too. A need for seed - Northern varieties are especially hard to source as we share over 100 pounds every year and can not grow our full supply. If we run out of a variety we will continue to ship the next best milkweed varieties to fill your requests. If you have extra seeds to share please contact us. We are happy to pay for postage and your time if you have a good supply. Thank you in advance for all your help. The seed you plant is the food and shelter for a Monarch Caterpillar. Thank you for planting a Home for them. Think about that for a moment a two cent investment and a moment to plant a single seed can provide a lifetime of food and shelter for a Monarch Caterpillar and the starting point for a 1500 mile migration. A miracle of Nature right in your back yard and your opportunity for a personal life changing experience with Nature. Please let everyone know about this site, about how to get milkweed seed, and why it is so important! Lifecycle Story of a Monarch Butterfly for FREE! Highly recommended . You will learn all about the care of a Monarch from an egg to an adult butterfly. Download all the pictures of your butterfly in its different life stages. This is a very simple and FUN learning experience. Great for small children and adults too. Would you like to save 45 days growing time and have butterflies in your garden right away? Then get some small milkweed plants. Prices include S&H. Just use our store link below, we include free seeds and full instructions with every order too. All plant orders under under $20 shipped by first class mail, weather permitting. We will hold all shipments until cold weather passes for safety. Use our Store Link to view and purchase other items too all sales benefit our mission. Free Milkweed plant with every plant order placed this month!!! Would you like to give seed packs to all your friends and family? Click here for our personalized seedpacks We support local growers and hope you seek out native varieties. If you can not find a local suplier or resource become one. Share your knowledge, plants and seeds. You are the most important part of our Mission. It all starts in your backyard. Asclepias-curassavica - This is hands down the favorite egg laying and food plant of Monarchs. This one type we offer as pregrown plants. It is fast growing and produces as much as 1,000 seeds per plant to save and share. Use as a backup food source resource when local varieties are exhausted. The seeds we supply are ready to plant no special preparation necessary. <8-14 day germination at 70F. Asclepias-syriaca - also know as common Milkweed this was once the major diet of the Monarchs. A 4' plant with large thick leaves that feed many Monarchs. Will survive winters and a prolific seed producer. We ship this type first until our supplies are exhausted then switch to speciosa for Northern regions. Germination is variable dependent on source. typically <10- 30 days Asclepias-speciosa - A beautiful plant up to 4' tall with large thick leaves that feed many Monarchs. Will survive winters and a prolific seed producer. The seed we supply are ready to plant no special "stratification" necessary. <14 -30 day germination. Maps are from www.aphis.usda.gov