UC Master Gardener volunteers, in partnership with the City of Atascadero, have transformed a neglected parcel of land into a pollinator garden designed to support monarch butterflies and educate the public about native plants, according to a March 20 announcement.
The project addresses concerns over declining monarch butterfly populations in San Luis Obispo County. Crystal Crimbchin, volunteer co-coordinator for the Xerces Society and zoo supervisor at the Central Coast Zoo in Atascadero, said: “Monarch numbers have completely plummeted from millions and millions to just thousands.” She explained that habitat loss due to climate volatility and non-native plants disrupts the butterflies’ life cycle. “Some monarchs are learning not to migrate because they have food that wouldn’t naturally be there for them,” Crimbchin said. “If you’re planting a flower that is blooming in the wrong season, the butterflies don’t get the message to move on and look for their next food source.”
The new Monarch and Pollinator Native Garden Corridor was developed after city staff recognized an opportunity to expand pollinator-friendly outreach efforts. Terrie Banish, director of community services and promotions for Atascadero, said: “Our city manager, Jim Lewis… saw a win-win in cleaning up the site and creating habitat and awareness for butterflies. It would also tie in as a rest stop for our monarchs and pollinators since it is halfway between Monterey and Pismo Beach.” Landscape architect Olwyn Kingery provided a pro bono design featuring sun-warmed rocks, water-holding swales, preserved native trees, and plantings such as coyote brush, California aster, native sages, daisies, milkweeds, and more.
Community involvement played a key role. Madrone Landscapes sponsored cleanup efforts while local high school students will contribute art installations. Christine Maness of UC Master Gardeners said: “They’ve transformed a completely unused space into the most amazing-looking garden that is vital to native bees, monarchs and other pollinators.” The site will serve as an educational platform with interpretive signage about native plants. Maness added: “With this being a major thoroughfare…the visibility of that monarch corridor is massive – it’s going to open the eyes of a lot of people to the UC Master Gardener program.”
The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), which oversees programs like UC Master Gardeners through its Cooperative Extension services according to its official website, secures funding through public contributions according to its official website. UC ANR promotes sustainable practices aimed at strengthening resilient ecosystems according to its official website and operates nine research centers representing California’s diverse environments according to its official website. The organization has gained recognition for linking research with community needs according to its official website.
UC ANR conducts tens of thousands of educational events annually with over 18,000 volunteers engaged in initiatives statewide according to its official website. Its mission includes extending university research through workshops across all 58 counties while supporting environmental stewardship via partnerships according to its official website.
Looking ahead, Crimbchin hopes visitors will see firsthand how planting appropriate species can help conservation efforts: “If we can show them…they’ll feel like ‘Yes, I can do something just by planting the right plants; I can make an impact on monarchs across the country.’”