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USA Today
12-03-2025
- General
- USA Today
National Plant a Flower Day: Help pollinators like monarch butterflies with your garden
National Plant a Flower Day: Help pollinators like monarch butterflies with your garden Flowers don't just look pretty! They help pollinators like monarch butterflies thrive. Show Caption Hide Caption Time to change your mind about having carpenter bees in your garden Discover why carpenter bees, despite their bad rap, are essential pollinators and how to coexist peacefully with them in your garden. It's almost spring! And March 12 is National Plant a Flower Day, the perfect day to bask in the sunlight and plant flowers that will help pollinators like the monarch butterfly. The sun is out, the birds are chirping, temperatures are heating up and we just got an extra hour of sunlight after the start of Daylight saving time. So grab your pack of native wildflower seeds, a shovel and some dirt. It's time to make sure your garden is ready for pollinators this spring. Is it too early to start planting? Essential gardening tips no matter where you live Why should you plant flowers on National Plant a Flower Day? Some squeamish folks may not want to hear this, but native flowers and plants are essential for making sure local ecosystems and pollinators, like lovely butterflies or hardworking bees, are healthy. However, due to a multitude of reasons, like the use of pesticides, the world's pollinator populations are dwindling. One example of this is the monarch butterfly. The monarch butterfly's population crept down to the second-lowest number on record in 2024, according to an annual survey from the World Wildlife Fund, WWF. While the butterflies wintered in Mexico, the organization found that the eastern monarch butterfly colonies took up 2.2 acres of regional forests during the 2023-2024 winter season. That's 59% less than the 5.5 acres they occupied the year before. "Fewer monarchs hibernating in their traditional forest habitat in Mexico greatly concerns all of us," Jorge Rickards, general director of WWF Mexico, said in a statement. "This is not the first time we've observed changes in the locations of the largest monarch colonies." Population doubles in 2025 Fortunately, there have been improvements. A new report released on Thursday March 6 shows that in 2025 the butterfly's population nearly doubled. Its wintering population occupied 4.42 acres in Mexico's forests, according to WWF. Despite the progress, the monarch population isn't close to what it should be. "While monarchs occupied nearly twice as much forest habitat as last year, populations remain far below the long-term average," the foundation stated. How gardeners can identify false spring, protect their plants The initial burst of sunshine and warmer temperatures may be a welcome sight, but more often than not, it is a false dawn. When spring-like temperatures arrive earlier than usual, they are typically followed by wintery conditions, hence the term 'false spring.' unbranded - Lifestyle How to help monarch butterflies and other pollinators Everyone can take part in helping butterflies regain their population, and folks don't even need a backyard to do it. Just some dirt, seeds and a few pots. "Most of the country falls in the monarch migratory pattern range," Deborah Seiler, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation's communications director, previously told USA TODAY. "It's a species where almost everyone has an opportunity to help." The Nature Conservancy says one of the best things folks can do to support pollinators, in general, is to create a pollinator garden. By starting one of these gardens with milkweed and native wildflowers, you essentially create a smorgasbord of delectable treats for any pollinator, like bees, hummingbirds and other butterflies, but especially the monarch butterflies. It's an all-you-can-eat buffet of nectar that will help support this delicate butterfly on their treacherous journey to and from Mexico's forests. Plant native wildflowers After all, it is National Plant a Flower Day. Monarch caterpillars are picky, but monarch butterflies- not so much. The website Xerces has a guide on what flowers should be planted and when they bloom based on each country's region. Having a well-rounded garden that constantly has blooms available for monarchs as they migrate is how one can make sure their garden is constantly providing nectar for the butterflies. For example, plants like scorpion's-tail and seaside goldenrod grow year-round in Florida. The seaside goldenrod can tolerate sandy soils and saltwater spray while also being an important nectar source for migrating monarchs. A plant like this is ideal for the state because it sees the monarchs year-round, while states in the Southeast region mentioned above only see the bugs from April to July and then from August to November. Contributing: Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
March 12 is National Plant a Flower Day, so make something bloom
Have the temperatures started to take a turn toward warmer levels where you live? That's been happening in many ZIP codes across the United States, as it usually does now that mid-March is almost upon us — making March 12 the perfect time of year to celebrate National Plant a Flower Day. This holiday is celebrated annually on March 12, and invites all of us to welcome in spring by planting a flower. (But who is just planting one?! Not us!) This day reminds us of the beauty – and joy! – that flowers bring into our lives. The origins of this holiday are unclear, but the role flowers play in our lives certainly isn't. Ancient Egyptians were known to use flowers to decorate their tables as well as their tombs. Ancient Greeks and Romans did the same … and don't we do the same even today? Flowers are an integral part of major events in our lives, from births to deaths, and we use them to say everything from "I'm sorry" to "I love you." All that said, who wouldn't want to celebrate this beautiful holiday? Here are some ways you can participate: Treat yourself to one of those gorgeous bouquets at the grocery store. If you're like us, you glance at them longingly every time you go, and then you stop yourself — because it feels like too much of an indulgence. But it's not too much of an indulgence on National Flower Day! Plant a flower (or a bunch). It doesn't matter where you live — or whether you already have a sprawling garden or only the tiniest balcony — planting a flower can brighten your space, and your mood. A tip, though: Don't plant peonies; it turns out that spring isn't the right time to put those pretties in the ground. Attend a gardening workshop. If you don't have a green thumb, try signing up for a hands-on workshop at a local gardening center. Many have classes for both beginners and experts, and you usually get to take your beautiful project home with you. Visit a local botanical garden or park. While it might be a little early in the season to enjoy blossoming blooms, you can still appreciate the diverse array of plants in your native area — and who knows, maybe you'll get a little inspo for your own flowering endeavors. On this National Flower Day, take a moment to appreciate the beauty, color, and joy that flowers bring into our world – and maybe even plant the seeds (literally or figuratively!) for a season full of growth and new beginnings.
