Upcoming classes & events
Monarch Butterflies, Pollinator Gardens, and Cities as Novel Ecosystems
Pollinator gardens provide important habitat for native bees and butterflies, but the way these species use gardens often differs from how they behave in the wild. Elizabeth Crone's research explores one striking example: in coastal California cities, cultivated plants in gardens allow monarch butterflies to remain year-round residents instead of following their traditional migratory life cycle. While this shift is dramatic, it’s not an isolated case—supplemental watering and non-native plants commonly reshape the life cycles of urban pollinators. Elizabeth doesn't believe gardens need to mimic natural ecosystems exactly, but should value pollinator gardens for what they are: novel but beneficial habitats that support wildlife in new ways.
Join us Friday, September 5 at 7:30 PM to hear Elizabeth Crone, ecologist at UC Davis and former UM professor, discuss her research in a talk titled Pollinator Gardens in Cities as Novel Habitats for Butterflies. Location: Rocky Mountain Exploration Center, 1075 South Ave W.
