2023 Report: Milkweed Giveaway to support the Monarchs!

During the 2023 Native Plant Expo, our staff and teams of volunteers distributed free milkweed and resources to support threatened monarch populations. Here's the impact:
  • 951 participants received milkweed plants!
    592 of those were attendees of the expo, 359 were pre-order customers through our 2023 Spring Native Plant Sale.
  • Geographic distribution: Of the addresses reported, Ann Arbor accounted for 33%, 27% from other Washtenaw county cities, and the remaining third were over 80 cities/towns from across Southeastern Michigan, even from Ohio!
  • Participant gardens:​ ​(presale participant data)
    • 75% Amending existing garden site
    • 15% Creating a new garden site
    • 10% Expanding existing garden site
    • Also, 97% identified as private garden/acreage, the other 3% were community or school gardens.
  • 2888 total milkweed plants were distributed. 
    Sourced from 2 local nurseries, we gave away 5 species of Milkweed:
    • Common (Asclepias syriaca​) - 1910 plants
    • Swamp (Asclepias incarnata​) - 594 plants
    • Poke (Asclepias exaltata​) - 128 plants
    • Whorled (Asclepias verticillata​) - 128 plants
    • Butterfly (Asclepias tuberosa​) - 128 plants (not including the Butterfly milkweed sold in the presales)

Did you receive plants? 
We'll be following up providing resources and to survey on plant survival and butterfly identification on your plants.
Happy growing for butterflies! (and all those lovely insects!)
Picture
Volunteers giving away milkweed at the Native Plant Expo & Marketplace!
Picture
Geographic distribution of participants who reported a zip code. Click to zoom.
 Special thank you to the couple that donated $5000 to make this Milkweed Giveaway possible!
If you're interested in donating or supporting these types of programs,
please contact us or consider donating today.
 The Washtenaw County Conservation District had the unique opportunity to offer the 2023 Milkweed Giveaway thanks to a significant donation from two individuals with a long history in conservation and concern for diminishing native ecosystems and species, in particular the Migratory Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus), an icon charismatic indicator species that recently received the globally ENDANGERED status. With the donated funds, we are offering free native milkweed (Asclepias spp.) plants, which the Monarch depends on as a larval host plant, through the annual WCCD native plant sales. 
 
The free milkweed plants were available in the pre-sale at three levels:
  1. Three 2" pots - For any residents, gardens of all sizes.
  2. Half Flat (19 2" plugs) - For larger managed natural areas / gardens larger up to 1/2 acre.
  3. Full Flat (38 2" plugs) - For managed natural areas / gardens larger than 1/2 acre.
Pre-ordered plants will be available to pick-up at the Spring Native Plant Sale distribution on June 3rd, 2023.
​Also available for pre-order was a "Monarch Waystation" Garden kit, a flat of 38 plugs with a mix of different species (10 or more) geared towards attracting Monarch butterflies specifically.  During the Expo, Designs By Nature will be selling these kits. 
Milkweed Giveaway during the
Native Plant Expo & Marketplace
We will also be giving away a limited number of free 2" pots to attendees during the Native Plant Expo & Marketplace on June 3rd, along with many resources and educational materials on milkweed planting and protecting the endangered Monarch Butterfly. 

As this program was supported by an individual donation, the WCCD programs can grow and evolve with donation support. You can donate to the WCCD to support programs like these at the button below. You can specify what motivated your donation on the cart before the checkout page:

Resources:

Picture
​Monarch Watch:​

Monarch Butterfly Resources:

Related WCCD & Partner programs:
Washtenaw County Conservation District
(734) 302-8715
info@washtenawcd.org
​ 705 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Copyright 2020
  •