We’re excited to announce an upcoming seminar featuring two passionate and knowledgeable speakers: Leo Silvestri—affectionately known as The Milkweed Man—and Jan Dugdale, President of the LaSalle Horticultural Society.
Join us for an engaging afternoon as Leo and Jan take you through the incredible life cycle of the monarch butterfly—from spotting an egg, to raising it through the caterpillar stage, and finally witnessing its transformation into a butterfly.
They’ll cover everything you need to know: what plants attract monarchs, how to build and maintain cages, common diseases and predators, and even details about their fascinating migration.
The seminar includes a delicious lunch, fun prizes, and a silent auction!
When was the last time you saw a monarch butterfly in your neighborhood?
If you’re like many people in Windsor and the surrounding area, your answer might be: “When I was a kid, they were everywhere—now I rarely see them. What happened to the monarchs?”
Come find out—and learn how you can help bring them back.
The reason Leo and Jan are so passionate about teaching and spreading the word is that the monarch butterfly is in serious trouble.
Since 1992, monarch populations have plummeted by 90%. Even more alarming, milkweed plants—the only food source for monarch caterpillars—have also declined by 90%. These critical plants are vanishing due to habitat loss from land development and the widespread use of pesticides on the fields where they once thrived.
Leo and Jan are part of a dedicated group of residents from Windsor, Essex, and Chatham-Kent counties working to change this. Their mission is to provide information, resources, and support to community members who want to help restore monarch populations and welcome these butterflies back into our neighbourhoods in large numbers.
The monarch butterfly is one of the most iconic and wondrous insects native to North America. Every year, tens of millions of monarchs embark on an incredible transcontinental migratory journey between Mexico, the United States, and Canada. In the fall, a single generation of monarchs completes the entire long journey from southern Canada to the mountainous conifer forests of central Mexico—despite never having seen their destination.
With the arrival of spring, monarchs begin their journey north from their overwintering sites in Mexico. Along the way, they lay eggs exclusively on milkweed plants, the only food source for their caterpillars, and soon after, they die—leaving their offspring to continue the migration northward. By the time monarchs return to our region in early June, it has taken three to four generations to complete the full journey.
This workshop is one of many local efforts over the past several years that has significantly increased awareness and contributed to the resurgence of monarch butterflies in our cities and towns. It has also made a positive impact on recent fall migration numbers, proving that small community actions can make a big difference.
Consider attending this great event here in Kingsville on July 5 at Lion’s Hall. You must “pre-register” for this event. No walk ins.
To register: email horticulturalsociety@mdirect.net
Hope to see you there.