Monarch Butterfly

Spring 2008 Newsletter

MONARCH BUTTERFLY BREEDING AREA

Ken Shellenberger, our new Park Supervisor, has begun a project dear to his heart. He has set up a breeding area for Monarch butterflies. The 1100 square foot area is delineated by orange wooden signs and is located across the entrance road from the Shannon mansion. There are approximately 200 milkweed plants in this one region. Monarch larvae feed on these plants, so this is a perfect spot. However, multifloral rose and bittersweet have invaded this region. Ken needs help in removing these invasives as well as help in planting nectar-bearing perennials for the adult monarchs to feed on.

If any FPPA members can help with this project (great family project), please email me at diana.cassel@comcast.net and I will organize a day or two for weeding and planting. Ken would like to get the weeding done by the end of March. Wear old clothes, bring gloves (multifloral rose has nasty thorns) and your garden shears and loppers. Ken has some weed wrenches to make pulling up the larger plants easier. For more information, call the park office at 610-270-0215.

- Diana L. Cassel, Ph.D

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