Village of Westmont
Date Issued: Aug 30, 2018
Westmont Public Works and the Westmont Environmental Improvement Commission (EIC) created a new landscape plan for the northeast corner of Cass and Irving this past spring. The project is part of a downtown beautification initiative and includes plantings that serve as a Monarch Waystation.
“The Village of Westmont signed a resolution in March of 2017 to improve Monarch habitat in the community,” said Jon Yeater, Village Forester and EIC liaison. “These areas can be both beautiful and beneficial. We are happy to do our part in the village, and hope our residents get to see more Monarchs around the downtown area.”
Monarch Waystations are places that provide resources necessary for monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration. Without milkweeds throughout their spring and summer breeding areas in North America, monarchs would not be able to produce the successive generations that culminate in the migration each fall. Similarly, without nectar from flowers these fall migratory monarch butterflies would be unable to make their long journey to overwintering grounds in Mexico. The need for host plants for larvae and energy sources for adults applies to all monarch and butterfly populations around the world.
The Village of Westmont and Clarendon Hills also continue to move forward and work together on the Richmond Education Garden & Apiary project, which will feature a butterfly-friendly habitat. There have also been conversations about possibly introducing natural vegetation improvements along the BNSF railroad corridor to further assist with this initiative.
For more information on how you can support butterfly habitat, visit the DuPage Monarch Project website at dupagemonarchs.com and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Website at www.fws.gov/midwest/news/PollinatorGarden.html
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Contact: Larry McIntyre
Village of Westmont Communications Director
630-417-0280, lmcintyre@westmont.il.gov
