Monarch Butterfly Gardens

Thanks to generous funding from Monarch Joint Venture and U.S. Forest Service International Programs, EDI is now engaging urban and exurban residents of San Diego in an effort to establish habitats that specifically support monarch butterflies. We have identified 28 suitable home garden sites to establish these habitats. Priority was given to residents from underserved communities and different climactic zones throughout San Diego County. This project aims to support the recovery of the western monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), a species that has declined by more than 90% since the 1980s.

Our staff are collaborating with the selected program participants this winter to install Monarch Habitat Gardens at each home garden site, coinciding with San Diego's rainy season for ideal planting conditions. EDI will continue to provide ongoing technical support to program participants, including site visits, through June 2024.