Milkweed Sowing Workshop for Monarch Butterfly Conservation, St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 3800 E. Third Street, Bloomington, IN

Milkweed leaves, the only food source for monarch caterpillars, are essential to the butterfly’s survival. The several milkweed varieties that exist in Indiana are rapidly disappearing.

You can support the monarch’s population by planting a patch of milkweed in your yard. Other pollinators will benefit from the flowers as well.

At this event, you will get started on your own butterfly garden by sowing milkweed seeds into milk jugs converted to “mini greenhouses.”

After the workshop, you’ll place your “greenhouse” jugs outdoors at home. Milkweed seeds need 30 days of cold, moist stratification to germinate. The seeds will sprout as temperatures. In time, you will transplant the seedlings into your garden.

Common Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Marsh (Rose) Milkweed, Whorled Milkweed, and Prairie Milkweed seed will be available, as well as Aster and Goldenrod seed. Jugs and potting soil will be provided.

Kids are welcome at this free family event arranged by the Park Ridge East Native Plants Group. Free.