Memekas Garden
83% of the land in the U.S. is privately owned. If we plant native on half of this land, we can restore biodiversity.
What else can we do? From Doug Tallamy, pollinator/native plant expert
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Shrink the lawn
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Plant natives
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Don't spray pesticides (including spraying for mosquitos!)
Learn more here
This spring, Monarchs will make their annual return to New Jersey after migrating to Mexico and back.
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Did you know? It takes four generations of butterflies to complete one migration cycle. This means the butterflies who return to New Jersey in the spring are the great grandchildren of butterflies that left last fall.
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The first butterflies will arrive around May to stay until fall. Over this period, butterflies will rely on our home gardens for their food and shelter.
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Monarchs can only lay their eggs on milkweed plants. This is why it is critical we plant milkweed in our gardens!
To learn more about planting milkweed species in New Jersey, click here.
Butterflies aren't the only critical pollinators in Monmouth Beach-- bees also play a key role.
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Honey bees were brought to America in the 1620's by Europeans. They became a staple of American agriculture, but should not overshadow the 4,000 species of bees native to the U.S.
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Most native bees are solitary, meaning they do not live in hives. Instead, these creatures live alone in dirt or wood material. Native bees are at serious risk of extinction, but our gardens can provide them with vital refuge.
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What can we do? Experts say to leave patches of dirt exposed, allow fallen branches to stay on the ground, and let stems stand through the winter.
Click here for more information on supporting native bees.
To learn more...
Monmouth Beach resources
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The Shade Tree Commission manages native tree plantings in Monmouth Beach
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Monmouth Beach was designated Monarch Beach by Monarch City USA!
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Monmouth's Monarch King fights for local butterfly protection
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Web resources​
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How to build a pollinator garden (link)
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10 Ways to Add Biodiversity to Your Garden (link)
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Pollinator Partnership (link)
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Books
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Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, by Douglas W. Tallamy
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Native Plant Gardening for Birds, Bees & Butterflies: Northeast by Jaret C. Daniels.
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Finding The Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard
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The Overstory by Richard Power
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Podcasts and Videos