From June through early September, we enjoy seeing the familiar monarch butterfly across Chicago. Many monarchs start their journey south right here in the city. But they need their host plant, milkweed, in order to survive and continue on their epic migration.
We’re asking residents across the Chicagoland area to join us in recording information about milkweed plants in their yards and communities. Whether you have a potted plant on your balcony or a yard full of milkweed, the information you gather will help future monarch butterflies survive.
Seeing green across Chicago
In 2019, participants from across Chicago monitored 130 milkweed patches throughout the summer—documenting 5,109 monarch butterfly eggs!