Monarch Waystation

[Keith Petrosky]

If I buy the seed kit for $16, do I get the waterproof sign with it? I want to put up the sign before the milkweed is plowed and gone for the year.

[Keith Petrosky]

Ok, so the signs may be another month, and you said to make a sign temporarily so nobody will plow the milkweed. What should the sign say, so nobody will think it is a prank or tear the sign down?

[Jim]

Hi Keith:

We'll have updated information about the Monarch Waystation program available at

http://www.MonarchWatch.org/ws/

but here's a quick overview of the process:

(1) Establish a monarch habitat (new or existing)
(2) Register/certify your Monarch Waystation site
(3) Anyone with a certified Monarch Waystation site may purchase an aluminum weatherproof sign for display at the site, identifying the site as an official Monarch Waystation and communicating a conservation message.

Other signs to promote public awareness of monarch habitat conservation could include something like

Monarchs Need Our Help! Promote milkweed conservation - monarch butterflies depend on milkweeds for survival.

Be sure to get permission before posting any signs and/or make sure you're not violating any local ordinances - good luck!

[Pat]

So how do I get my waystation certified? I went through this process with National Wildlife several years ago and they had an extensive checklist of habitat characteristics they were looking for (but it was worth it ... and now we do have a nice certified habitat sign bolted to a tree in the front yard ). Part of that application was photographs of all the butterfly species I had, lists of the host plants, trees, water sources etc. Is there a similar Monarch Watch application we can download?

[Keith Petrosky]

I guess I wont be able to put mine up because there is no way I can get permission by the town.

[Jim]

So how do I get my waystation certified?...Is there a similar Monarch Watch application we can download?

We are wrapping up the certification/registration process and will post details at

http://www.MonarchWatch.org/ws

once they're ready. We'll also post an announcement here as well as in our monthly email update:

http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update