Bad News
The Western Monarch Butterfly is still on the brink of extinction. The 2025 Early-Season (October – November) California Western Monarch Butterfly Count, still in progress, so far has counted something over 5,000 monarchs with only a few days left in the reporting period. This means that it is possible that this year’s Early Season Count will be even less than last year’s count of 7,601 monarchs. This terrible statistic is yet another desperate call for everyone to step forward and do their part to save the Monarch.
Good News
The A.L. Clinton Operating Foundation’s first year of underwriting the cost of Monarch-friendly butterfly gardens has been a resounding success. the launching of the Foundation’s web site, yourmonarchgarden.org last Spring inspired well over 100 households on or near the rim of Rancho Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve to sing up for FREE butterfly-friendly gardens. A “garden” consists of 6-8 Narrow Leaf Milkweed plants and 6-8 nectar (“host”) plants installed at each residence. The entire cost of the plants, garden supplies and installation was paid by the Foundation. This means that one to two thousand milkweed and nectar plants went into the ground to support the Foundation’s program to make the Preserve a Monarch-butterfly superhighway.
This is a wonderful start to say the least, but it is not enough; in fact it falls far short of what is needed. The Foundation will begin the 2026 program earlier than before with more outreach via digital media and collaboration with other Monarch-friendly non-profit organizations.
The Friends of Peñasquitos Canyon have submitted a grant application to the Foundation which will result in over 4,000 more milkweed and nectar plants being installed in six locations throughout the canyon over four years. This is a quantum leap forward and will expand the Foundation’s program exponentially. Installation will begin next Spring, in time for the Monarch’s 2026 migration to the California Coast.
The San Diego River Park Foundation has designated a large space in its new Grant Park educational facility in Mission Valley as a butterfly-friendly garden. The A.L. Clinton Operating Foundation has agreed in principle to underwrite the cost of literally hundreds of milkweed and nectar plants for the garden. This cooperative venture is another big step forward for the Foundation and expands its scope far beyond the Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. The Foundation hopes to collaborate with other local non-profits to establish Monarch Butterfly-friendly gardens throughout San Diego County in time for the Monarch’s 2026 migration.
The result of the Foundation’s own program and collaboration with other non-profits is a huge expansion of creative thinking and innovation to help revive the Monarch population. It is vital to build momentum so that every year brings massive progress in ways not thought of before. Despite the disappointing Early-season Count, we can look forward to the Mid- and Late-season counts with some optimism. As long as we continue to reach, there is hope that more will join the cause out on behalf of our little but important friend, the Monarch.
