Help support the creation of a new host plant garden—a place for butterflies to lay their eggs and their caterpillars to grow. By planting host plants and nectar plants, you can help us promote our local butterflies, including Monarchs and much more!
Make your gift today to create new gardens for native life to thrive!
What your support will do:
Riverside is home to a diverse population of native butterflies--including the charismatic Monarch butterfly. Your support will go toward the creation of a garden to support all stages of the butterfly life cycle. We will plant key host plants to support the development of caterpillars to adult butterflies. Species of interest are:
- Painted Ladies
- Checkered Whites
- Fiery skippers
- California Dogface
- Grey Hairstreaks
- Queen and Monarch butterflies
In addition to host plants, native flowering plants will be introduced to attract and provide key nectar resources to adult butterflies. This project involves the creation of this demonstration garden and will provide a unique learning experience for students to see metamorphosis in action while supporting our butterfly pollinators.
Funds are requested to cover the costs of:
- Sourcing plants or seeds for planting
- Mulch
- Irrigation-related expenses
- Signage to identify the plants and what butterflies they support
This garden will support local pollinators and pollination research on campus. Students and faculty from the Department of Entomology have volunteered to help us plant and establish the new butterfly garden.
