SYMBOLIC MONARCH MIGRATION
SYMBOLIC MONARCH MIGRATION
Although monarch butterflies born in the summer will live only a few weeks, the generation that emerges in late summer and early fall is different. These butterflies are born to migrate and may live up to eight or nine months. From the Hendersonville area, their epic journey to Mexico covers at least 2,000 miles. Like clockwork, the first migrating monarchs typically reach their overwintering habitats high in the mountains of central Mexico by the first of November.
The annual international Symbolic Monarch Migration education program mimics the monarchs’ journey by engaging more than 10,000 children from across the United States and Canada in creating paper butterflies to send to students in Mexico. As the real-life monarchs arrive in Mexico for the winter, the symbolic paper butterflies will also be delivered to schools surrounding the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. Sometime in spring after the living monarchs’ departure from Mexico, groups of paper butterflies will also return north, carrying special messages from the students in Mexico. United by the monarch butterfly, children across North America learn authentic lessons of conservation and cooperation.
Henderson County youth are invited to participate in the 28th annual Symbolic Monarch Migration education program being coordinated by Bullington Gardens in partnership with local volunteers and sponsors. The following sponsors have provided funding for up to 101 local classrooms and groups (35 from within the City of Hendersonville plus 66 from anywhere within Henderson County) to participate at no charge:
Bee City USA - Hendersonville: sponsor of 35 groups (within City limits).
BeeHaven Gardens: sponsor of 10 groups.
Bullington Gardens: sponsor of 18 groups
Honeybee Bliss: sponsor of 8 groups
Milkweed Meadows Farm: sponsor of 30 groups
Land of the Sky Chapter of the North Carolina Native Plant Society: sponsor of 10 groups
Any group (up to 30 participants) of youth located within Henderson County may take part in the program including public or private school classrooms, home school groups, afterschool groups, childcare centers, girls/boys clubs, scout troops, 4-H clubs, YMCA groups, other youth organizations, religious groups, nonprofit organizations, families, etc. In addition, all participating groups will be eligible to receive a free native milkweed plant or plants (thanks to Timbo Wilkins and Costa Farms North Carolina) and 1-3 live monarch caterpillars and/or chrysalides (as naturally available) to “adopt” to raise and release. Additional details about these supplemental optional resources will be provided to teachers/leaders after registering their classrooms/groups.
Directions for Participation
Schools/Organizations
Review all program requirements in the leader packet. Instead of purchasing a “Passenger Ticket” for your group, please email us and provide your school/group name and location to receive a free registration code and instructions for how to register your classroom/group to participate in the Symbolic Monarch Migration program at no cost. The deadline to request a free registration code for your group is Friday, October 13, 2023. The deadline to mail your group’s symbolic/paper butterflies is Friday, October 20, 2023.
Individual Students
Students who are not part of registered classroom or group may also participate at no charge by creating a paper butterfly and delivering it to Bullington Gardens by Friday, October 20, 2023
Monarch Month Events
To celebrate the monarch’s annual migration through Western North Carolina and also encourage the community to help the butterflies on their journey, the following regional educational events and pollinator-friendly plant sales are taking place during the month of September.
Symbolic Monarch Migration: Henderson County
Groups of Henderson County youth are invited to participate in the 28th annual Symbolic Monarch Migration education program coordinated and funded by Bullington Gardens in partnership with local volunteers and sponsors.
September 1 – 30 (or until 200 tickets are sold)
Just as monarch butterflies are migrating across our Blue Ridge Mountains on their epic journey to the mountain sanctuaries in southern Mexico for the winter, Asheville GreenWorks’ Bee City USA Leadership Committee and the Asheville office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service are excited to announce they are partnering with Buncombe County Schools to offer the Symbolic Monarch Migration program to local classrooms. To fund the program for local teachers, a pollinator habitat raffle will be held throughout the month of September. Each raffle ticket costs $25 and only 200 tickets will be sold for a custom 10’ x 10’ pollinator habitat to be planted in Buncombe or adjacent counties. If GreenWorks sells 200 tickets, it can cover more than 300 teachers’ registrations! The winning pollinator habitat will use the plants that are native to Western North Carolina. Fall is an ideal time to plant pollinator habitat to give young plants time to establish before the spring growth season. The lucky winner will be announced on October 2, and their habitat will be installed in late October or early November.
Bullington Gardens Fall Plantapallooza Sale
Friday, September 8 & Saturday, September 9, 9 AM – 4 PM
This plant sale will feature a range of natives, old favorites, and exciting new introductions while also supporting the mission of Bullington Gardens.
Location: Bullington Gardens, 95 Upper Red Oak Trail, Hendersonville
Botanical Gardens at Asheville Fall Plant Sale
Saturday, September 9, 9 AM – 3 PM
The Botanical Gardens and numerous local plant vendors will offer a wide variety of native trees, shrubs, and flowers for fall planting.
Location: Botanical Gardens at Asheville, 151 W.T. Weaver Blvd, Asheville
Saturday, September 16, 8 AM - 1 PM
Visit the Milkweed Meadows Farm tent to see live monarchs in different life cycle stages, make a paper butterfly to send on a journey to Mexico and back as part of the Symbolic Monarch Migration program, and/or purchase native milkweeds and other pollinator friendly plants.
Location: Historic Train Depot, 650 Maple St., Hendersonville
Best Plants for Your Pollinator Garden
Monday, September 18, 7 PM - 9 PM
This monthly meeting of the Henderson County Beekeepers Association is free and open to the public. The presentation will focus on native and locally adopted plants to help support bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and other pollinations.
Location: Henderson County Extension Center, 100 Jackson Park Rd., Hendersonville
Gardening For Life Native Plant Sale
Friday, September 22, 4 PM - 7 PM
As part of the 4th Friday celebration in downtown Tryon, this event will also feature native plant growers from across the region offering the best of the best in native plant selection and quality.
Location: N Trade St., Tryon.
Pollinator Field Day
Saturday, September 23, 10 AM - 2 PM
The 6th annual Pollinator Field Day will be held in Mills River in 2023! Landowners, backyard gardeners, farmers, families, etc. are all invited out to meet representatives from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, NC Pollinator Conservation Alliance, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Asheville Field Office, and more to learn more about monarchs, bumble bees, and planting native habitats. There will be tours of the research station, presentations, and interactive exhibits.
Location: Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, 455 Research Drive, Mills River
Saturday, September 23, 11 AM - 3 PM
The festival will offer educational programs and exhibits featuring the monarch butterfly, including children’s crafts, live music, a food truck, a festive photo board, local art for sale, milkweed and pollinator-friendly plants for purchase, and a Monarch Migration Passport to lead families through monarch-themed activities. Free!
Location: Gorges State Park, 976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire
The NC Arboretum Fall Plant Sale & Vendor Market
Friday, September 29 & Saturday, September 30, 10 AM - 3 PM
The market features unique plants grown in the Arboretum’s greenhouse and includes over 30 local growers and businesses. Shop an outstanding collection of annuals, perennials, and crafts. A standard $20 parking fee applies to all non-members.
Location: The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville
September 30, 8 AM-5 PM
Monarch Day is returning to the NC Arboretum! More details coming soon! A standard $20 parking fee applies to all non-members.
Location: The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville
Exhibit Opening of “Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival”
Saturday, September 30
This new exhibit explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent. A standard $20 parking fee applies to all non-members.
Location: Baker Exhibit Center, The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville.
15th Annual Flock to the Rock
Saturday, September 30, 10 AM – 3 PM
Break out the binoculars and get ready for our annual feathered frenzy. Flock to the Rock was designed so birders of all skill sets can enjoy one of the country’s fastest growing hobbies – bird watching! This event is held during fall migration for birds AND monarch butterflies. As a spot on the NC Birding Trail and a Monarch Waystation, there's no better place than Chimney Rock to experience these incredible natural phenomena. Bring the whole family for live raptor programs, bird and pollinator activities, intro to birding hikes, and the annual hawk watch from the Chimney. This year we’re celebrating 15 amazing years of Flock to the Rock! Included with Park admission of $8/day for youth and $17/day for adults.
Location: Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park, 431 Main St, Chimney Rock
