What is a Monarch Waystation?

A Monarch Waystation is a dedicated habitat that provides monarch butterflies with the plants and resources they need to breed, feed, and rest during their long journey. By planting milkweeds — the only plant monarch caterpillars can eat — and nectar-rich flowers, we can help ensure the survival of monarchs as they pass through our region. From home gardens to shared community spaces, creating a Monarch Waystation is an impactful way to support this important species.

Why Monarchs Need Our Help

The Central Coast, with its mild climate and natural beauty, is a key region for monarchs during their migration and breeding season. But monarch habitats are disappearing rapidly due to urban development, herbicide use, and roadside mowing. Milkweed plants, critical for monarch caterpillars, are especially affected. Without milkweeds and nectar-filled flowers to sustain them, monarchs can’t survive their journey or produce new generations.

How Oak Ridge Estates Can Help

Our neighborhood can be part of the solution by creating Monarch Waystations right here in Oak Ridge Estates. Here’s how you can contribute:

• Plant Milkweeds and Native Flowers: Include at least 10 milkweed plants (try species like narrowleaf milkweed or showy milkweed, which thrive in California) and nectar plants that bloom throughout the season. Native plants choices.

• Pick a Sunny Spot: Monarchs and their host plants love the sun! Choose areas in your yard or community spaces that get at least six hours of sunlight daily.
• Provide Shelter: Plant milkweeds and nectar flowers close together to give monarchs shelter from predators and the elements—but avoid overcrowding.
• Sustain Your Habitat: Keep your garden healthy with mulching, watering, and weeding, and skip the insecticides to protect monarchs and other pollinators.
• Certify Your Waystation: Once your habitat is established, you can register it as an official Monarch Waystation. This not only helps monarchs but also encourages others in Oak Ridge Estates to follow your lead.

Why It Matters for Our Central Coast Community

Monarchs are an iconic part of life on the Central Coast, with nearby overwintering sites like Pismo Beach offering a glimpse of their magic. By creating Monarch Waystations in Oak Ridge Estates, we can support their incredible migration while enriching our community with vibrant, pollinator-friendly gardens.

Together, we can make Oak Ridge Estates a welcoming oasis for monarchs and ensure their continued presence on the Central Coast for generations to come. Let’s work as neighbors to build a better future—for monarchs and for us!

Where Can I Buy Milkweed?

Finding native milkweeds, like narrowleaf milkweed, isn’t as easy as grabbing a plant from your local big-box store. Unfortunately, most of those stores only sell tropical milkweed, which isn’t ideal for monarchs and has even been banned for sale in places like Ventura County.

The good news? Native milkweed is often available at local independent nurseries during its prime growing season (March to August). In our area, Miner’s Ace Hardware and Bay Laurel Garden Center usually carry milkweed during the season. Bay Laurel Garden Center often offers a variety of species beyond common milkweed, so it’s worth checking out!

Another great resource is the California Native Plant Society’s website, Calscape.org, where you can search for nurseries that stock native milkweed species near Oak Ridge Estates.

You can also reach out to your favorite nurseries and request that they stock native milkweed—it’s a great way to support monarchs and encourage more availability for our community!

How can you get involved

In 2021, neighbors Cindy Findley and Francie Kelley, united by their shared passion for monarch butterflies and concern for their declining populations, began a project to support these remarkable insects. Since then, hundreds of milkweed plants have been planted along San Marcos and Cabazon. Dozens of monarch butterflies have been released, and the results have been encouraging.

Look for the small, bright orange, acrylic “Milkweed” signs, low to the ground in the dirt, along San Marcos Road and Cabazon Road from February through October. These signs mark locations where milkweed plants are growing, providing vital resources for the monarchs. The purpose of the signs is to provide a visual cue that these plants should be nurtured and not destroyed or weed-whacked.

Monarchs need your help

Volunteers are needed to help extend the Monarch Waystation further down San Marcos. The goal is for Oak Ridge Estates to become a thriving corridor for monarch butterflies, creating a safe and supportive environment for their migration. If you’re interested in contributing to this important cause, there are many ways to get involved. Contact Cindy Findley or Francie Kelley for inspiration and ideas.