Master gardeners present monarch butterfly program

Tyler—East Texans who have dreamed of attracting flocks of fluttering butterflies to their backyard or helping save the iconic monarch will have a prime opportunity to learn how this week. 

As part of their “Nature in the Garden Series,” the Smith County Master Gardeners and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are hosting a free public program titled “Butterflies: Best Practices for Monarch Conservation and Butterfly Gardening in East Texas.” The event will take place Thursday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to noon at the AgriLife Extension Office classroom in the historic Cotton Belt Building, located at 1517 W. Front Street, Suite 116, in Tyler.

This informative program will be led by Dawn Stover, founder and owner of The Nectar Connector, who has decades of hands-on experience in pollinator gardening and native plant conservation. Stover is a longtime advocate for using locally adapted native plants to attract and support butterflies and other beneficial insects. Her lecture will combine horticultural know-how with ecological insight, offering attendees practical advice on creating and maintaining vibrant butterfly-friendly landscapes across East Texas.

The heart of Stover’s presentation will focus on monarch butterflies, whose populations have seen alarming declines in recent decades due to habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use. Monarchs require milkweed (Asclepias spp.) as host plants for their larvae. Stover will explain how incorporating milkweed and other essential native species into the garden can provide the right conditions for their survival and reproduction. Beyond monarchs, she’ll highlight the needs of numerous native butterfly species and the broader ecological value of creating habitat for all pollinators.

Attendees will learn how to select and grow a range of nectar and host plants suited to East Texas’s climate and soils. Topics will include species selection, seasonal bloom succession, pesticide-free maintenance, and the use of local ecotypes. Special attention will be given to plant-pollinator interactions and the importance of fostering adult butterflies and their caterpillars. Gardeners of all levels, from master gardeners to newcomers with a sunny patio, will come away with inspiring ideas and practical tools.

This free workshop is open to the public, but registration is requested in advance, as space is limited. Participants can sign up by visiting https://smith.agrilife.org/ngs/ or calling the Smith County AgriLife Extension Office at (903) 590-2980. A QR code for registration is also available on the event flyer posted on the Smith County Master Gardener Facebook page.

With pollinator populations under pressure across Texas, this timely event offers education and empowerment. Join Dawn Stover and the Smith County Master Gardeners for an enlightening and actionable program that might transform your yard into a butterfly sanctuary. Whether you have a few pots on a balcony or acres of pasture, everyone has a role to play in supporting these winged wonders of the garden.

Greg Grant, Ph.D., is the Smith County horticulturist and Master Gardener coordinator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.