The ever-popular Monarch made its appearance once again at Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanical Gardens during a weekend long, Monarch Celebration.
The 31st annual Monarch Celebration honored the exquisite Monarch, right at the nature center, 7402 Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights, and was held on September 21 and September 22.
Judy Splayt, of Tinley Park, attended with her 2-year-old granddaughter, Joelle.
“We’re babysitting and today is also my birthday,” Splayt said. “What a wonderful way to celebrate.”
The Monarch Butterfly is a large, uniquely colored butterfly that is easy to recognize by its orange, black, and white markings.
At the beginning of every fall season, all Monarchs embark on a long cross-country migration that begins in the United States and Canada. During this trip, generations of these butterflies travel thousands of miles until they reach Mexico, where they the stay over the winter season until it’s time to begin their migration back home in March.
“Our celebration provided a fully immersive and educational experience with monarchs as the focus,” said Gareth Blakesley, director and chief naturalist at Lake Katherine.
During the course of the weekend, families were able to experience the magic of the butterfly during the celebration as they walked through a large butterfly tent filled with Monarchs in a pre-registered 15-minute time slot.
The cost to be admitted into the butterfly tent was $10 per person. Attendees were also given the opportunity to release a butterfly for an additional $5. Staff only permitted a maximum of 20 people inside the tent at a time.
Pre-registration to access the butterfly tent and hayride helps cut down on long lines, said Stacy Schuble, Marketing Coordinator Consultant at Lake Katherine.
“We also have a heavy focus on education about Monarchs and the risk of their decline due to the decline of milkweed plants (the Monarch host plant), other pollinator plants, and stress at the site where Monarchs spend their winter in the Oyumel forest in Mexico,” Schuble said.
As a registered nonprofit, any funds raised from the event will go directly to continue Lake Katherine’s educational classes, restoration work and maintaining the grounds on the nature center year-round.
“It is important to educate important to educate the general public about the Monarch because Monarchs are in decline and the migrations at risk of not continuing on in the future,” Blakesley said.
The reason for this is manifold: decline of milkweed plants, which is the host plant of the monarch, lack of pollinator plants, which provide the nectar the butterfly feeds on, and stress on the overwintering site in Mexico.
Monarch butterfly overwintering colonies are found in Mexico’s Oyamel fir forest, a unique mountain habitat. The oyamel forest is a relic from a time when the earth was cooler and wetter. As the earth warmed, the forest retreated up the mountainsides to retain the cool, moist climate to which the trees are adapted.
Those who would like to help the Monarch right at home can simply plant milkweed within their own gardens, Lake Katheirne naturalists said.
More than 1,500 people attended the two-day festival.
Along with the educational experience, guests at Lake Katherine’s Monarch Celebration were also able to enjoy a visit with animal guests, a crafting area, educational activities, a hayride around the grounds, food and craft vendors offering seasonally appropriate items and more, including plenty of photo opportunities and an opportunity to see the butterfly up-close.
Vendors this year included: Mr. Craves Treats & Eats, The Do Good Movement, Pass Health Foods, Wildflower Soap Company, Friends of the Chicago River, The Children’s Farm at the Center, Palos Heights Green Team, Lake Katherine Gift Shop, The Urban Canopy, 18th Street Casa de Cultura/Son Chiquitos, Snapology, Palos Islamic Center and University of Illinois Extension.
