The Monarch Waystation Garden at VISTA Gardens

This garden provides food and shelter for Monarch butterflies using sustainable gardening practices to continue supporting this endangered species into the future, meeting the requirements to be registered through https://www.monarchwatch.org/.

1 Monarch caterpillar on Milkweed, July 8, 2020.jpg

Monarch caterpillar feeding on White Swamp milkweed,
Asclepias perennis

2 Monarch Waystation Garden in February 2021.jpg

Monarch Waystation Garden in 2021

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We plant various species of milkweed native to our region that mature and flower at different times during the season. By continuing to add new native species, monarchs use our habitat for a longer period during the breeding season. For example, in 2021, VISTA volunteers built a pergola to support White twinevine, Sarcostemma clausum, that provides more sustained foliage for these hungry caterpillars!

Pergola constructed to support White twinevine in August 2021

6 Monarch caterpillar feasting on Twinevine in the Monarch Waystation Garden, February 18,

Monarch caterpillar feasting on White twinevine February 18, 2022

White twinevine bloom September 2021

White twinevine November 2022

Monarchs exclusively rely on Milkweed as their host plant. Host plants are where butterflies lay their eggs for the next generation and serve as a food source for the developing caterpillars. Known by Eric Carle’s popular children’s picture book, these “very hungry caterpillars” devour milkweed plants. The plants regenerate and new foliage soon appears.

Pink Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata

10 Emerged from chrysalis April 1, 2020.jpg

Monarch butterfly emerged from chrysalis on April 1, 2020

Monarch caterpillar devouring Pink Swamp milkweed, Asclepias perennis

Monarch chrysalis

We grow many varieties of nectar plants to nourish many species of butterflies, as well as other pollinators.

11 Monarch on Spotted Water Hemlock, May 17, 2022.jpg

Monarch on Spotted Water Hemlock, Cicuta maculata

Gulf Fritillary Monarch on Zinnia

Bumblebee on Tropical sage

Mistflower, Conoclinium coelestinum

Tropical Sage, Salvia coccinea

Growing milkweed and nectar plants close together provides shelter for monarchs and other wildlife to survive.

Firebush, Golden canna, Spotted water hemlock, Tropical sage, Coreopsis

Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolata and Firebush, Hamelia patens

Firebush provides wonderful shelter monarchs and other wildlife to survive.

We tend this garden by irrigating, thinning, and pruning plants to avoid overcrowding, removing weeds and invasive plant species, mulching and incorporating additional features, such as puddle trays (where butterflies perch to gather nutrients) and a bench for observation.

Puddle tray

Bench with Lavender and Yellow Anise, Illicium parviflorum

21 Mexican Sunflowers - Torch, with butterflies, June 15, 2019.jpg

Red Torch Sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia with butterflies

The Monarch Waystation Garden receives more than the required minimum of 6 hours of sun each day necessary for this habitat.

To protect the lives of butterflies and their fellow pollinators, we do not use insecticides.

Fledgling Monarch Waystation Garden, March 2020

Painted rock – Life

24 Vista Gardens April 30 2022, Photo by Mark Shallabarger.jpg

Bouquets from Vista Gardens April 30 2022, Photo by Mark Shallabarger

We incorporate a variety of plants, including some annuals such as (the non-invasive) Red Torch Sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia, Zinnia and Cosmos. Our perennial plants are mostly moisture loving, as this garden is in a low-lying area that has very moist-to-wet soil during Central Florida’s rainy season.