On Sat., May 14, from 9 a.m. – noon, the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) hosted “Monarch Madness” – a free family-friendly milkweed planting event at their Willoughby Preserve in the Ventura River estuary. This open-to-the-public event was made possible by funding provided by the Southern California Gas Company.
Monarch butterflies need milkweed plants to survive. Their caterpillars only eat milkweed and monarch mothers lay their eggs on the milkweed plant. The monarch is the only known butterfly to make a two-way migration like birds do. Milkweed habitat loss is the biggest short-term threat to the migration of monarch butterflies.
Attendees met at the Ventura River kiosk near Ventura’s Main Street Bridge at 9 a.m. to be escorted to the nearby planting area. VHC presented a brief monarch butterfly presentation and milkweed planting demonstration.
