PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:
The Central Illinois Monarch Butterfly Task Force, in conjunction with the Peoria Garden Club, St. Jude Leggo Firecrackers, and Peoria Park District will be hosting the Majestic Monarch Madness Kickoff Celebration, on Mon. - May 1, 2017 at 3:30 P.M. at Donovan Park, 5805 N. Knoxville in Peoria, Illinois. (The former golf course).
A pollinator garden has been created to assist in increasing the numbers of Monarch Butterflies, our state insect. Mayor Jim Ardis and Governor Bruce Rauner signed a Proclamation declaring the month of May 2017, Monarch Butterfly Month, to help increase awareness of the plight of the Monarchs.
Senator Chuck Weaver and Mayor Jim Ardis will address the participants. Activities will include Eagle Ridge, a native drum group, and dancers performing a dance honoring the butterflies. Children will be flying Monarch kites and others wearing Monarch wings.
There will be a number of Monarch items on sale, including hand painted Monarch stepping stones, annual tropical milkweed seed balls to create a mini Monarch garden, and No Mowing Signs.
The Monarch population is currently down over 96.5%. This is due in part to the use of insecticides, loss of habitat, and a devastating storm last spring, in the area of Mexico where the majority of Monarchs spend their winters. The only plant the Monarchs lays their eggs on and the larva eat, is milkweed, which is down 73%.
This pollinator garden will bring awareness to the plight of the Monarch butterflies and the need to plant more milkweed. The Monarch garden can be utilized by school groups and the general public alike.
For more information call 309-367-2697 - 30 -
My take: this might be fun, however Ardis and Weaver support the apartments in Riverfront Park, which would destroy Monarch habitat there. So no net gain, maybe a net loss.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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