ABC Wednesday - M is for Monarch

Kansas Prairie

                                                                          M is for MONARCH

Monarch is such a beautiful butterfly and we see many of them in Kansas.  The Monarch is also known as the Milkweed Butterfly.

I did  some research on wickipedia and found out some interesting facts:

The Monarch can be found in a wide range of habitats such as fields, meadows, prairies (Kansas), parks, gardens and roadsides.  The milkweed is the host plant.

Each fall clouds of 70 million Monarchs fly from a small mexican village (Anganqueo) and migrate the fartherst distance than any other butterly.  Anganquo is where the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is located.

Aren't they exqusite!!!!

I have quite a few in my yard in the fall around my Sedum Plants.

 A local school in our district has a Butterly Garden.

It was developed as a habitat for Monarch and all other butterflies.  The garden has plenty of Milkweed which is the only plant that Monarchs will lay their eggs on.  Kindergarten and Preschool students get hands on science experience of watching the entire life cycle of a butterfly.  They can see the eggs, watch the caterpillars grow bigger and see the cocoon and eventually the adult butterlies.   Their goal is to help the children appreciate nature.  They teach the  children not to pick or damage plants because that plant is home to many animals. 

The schools mascot is also the Monarch and my daughter taught their for a number of years.

I'm linking with ABC Wednesday @http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com

Ann