Monarch City

The City of Sanford became Florida’s 9th Monarch City in the State and proclaims June, of every year, as Monarch Butterfly Month.  Every year in June, we encourage all Sanford residents to plant milkweed.  

Monarchs cannot survive without milkweed; their caterpillars only eat milkweed plants (Asclepias spp.), and monarch butterflies need milkweed to lay their eggs.  Planting milkweed is a great way to help other pollinators, providing valuable nectar resources to a diverse suite of bees and butterflies. Offering a wide array of native nectar plants will attract monarchs and many other butterflies and pollinators to your habitat all season long.

The City also promotes gardening for Monarch Butterflies at various City functions throughout the year  such as Citizens Academy, Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, City of Sanford Tree Giveaway, and at the Sanford Community Garden.

If you are interested in planting a butterfly garden, you will find detailed information at Monarch City USA’s website, including milkweed seed resources, and at Monarch Joint Venture for “Gardening for Monarchs” for helpful information.  

Feel free to call the Parks Department at 407.688.5103 for additional guidance as well. We would love to share our love of gardening and the great outdoors with you!