But their numbers are declining, a trend for which several factors are responsible. 

“The monarch butterfly population is dangerously low and scientists fear we could lose the species altogether,” said Nina Veteo, executive director of Monarch Rescue.

With fall approaching, so is migration season — and with it an array of programs aimed at educating people and eventually saving the monarch butterfly. 

Make a home for monarchs

A lesson on how to turn your backyard into a Monarch Waystation will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the Canton Public Library.

Master Gardener Jean White will talk about the Monarchs and their plight, and Master Gardener Marcia Tate will discuss and show the Waystation located behind the library in the Giving Garden. 

Monarch Waystations, a project of the nonprofit Monarch Watch, provide pesticide-free nourishment and shelter to monarchs throughout their lifecycle. These gardens hold milkweed — the only food monarch caterpillars eat — and nectar-bearing plants native to the area, acting as sanctuaries for monarchs from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. 

Seven Master Gardeners in Haywood County recently had their gardens certified as Monarch Waystations — four of them were individual home gardens and three were public gardens created by master gardeners in partnership with Hazelwood Elementary School, Canton Public Library and Junaluska Elementary School.

Canton Public Library, 828.648.2924. 

Library programs call attention to pollinator decline

A hands-on talk about pollinators — who they are, what they do, why they’re important and how people can help — will come to area libraries next week. 

• 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the Jackson County Public Library. 828.586.2016.
• 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the Macon County Public Library. 828.524.3600.
• 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. 828.356.2507.

Becka Walling of Balsam Mountain Trust will lead the one-hour program, highlighting the declines of two important pollinators — monarch butterflies and honeybees. She’ll talk about the forces behind their dip in population and discuss what bug-lovers can do to help, with time for informal discussion allotted following the lecture. 

The program will wrap up with a chance to make seed bombs holding native pollinator seeds, which attendees will take home. Free and open to all ages, but geared toward adults. 

Monarch Butterfly Day held at arboretum

The N.C. Arboretum is holding its first-ever daylong celebration of the monarch butterfly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. 

Offered in partnership with the nonprofit Monarch Rescue, Monarch Butterfly Day will feature fun, educational programs for both adults and youth. Activities will include a monarch tag and release celebration, make-and-take milkweed seed bombs, face painting, crafts, educational presentations and a common milkweed plant sale.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Project EXPLORE, a youth education initiative of the Arboretum aimed at engaging initiative students and teachers in hands-on citizen science at their schools.

Free with $12 per-car parking fee. www.ncarboretum.org.