Milkweed Matters

09/23/2026

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is partnering with Loess Hills Preservation Society and City of Council Bluffs to host an Open House at Vincent Bluff Nature Preserve in Council Bluffs, IA on Friday September 25th, 3-5pm.

The event will showcase plans to expand and permanently protect this precious Loess Hills prairie bluff in the middle of Council Bluffs. Please support this effort and donate if you are able, 🌾🦋🐝

Here is a link to the event and learn more about the Vincent Bluff expansion below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ed5h7Mfg8/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19sqApLG2f/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/14/2026

Thank you to everyone that came out to the Pedal for the Prairie today! It was a good turnout even though it was wet. People came and had a good time in the beautiful Glenwood Archaeological State Preserve. Some biked, some hiked and everyone tossed alot of milkweed seedballs! Thank you to PATH - Pollinator Alliance of the Heartland, Mills County Master Gardeners and Brad Rasmussen for being there. Thank you to our volunteers and partners Golden Hills RC&D and Mills County Conservation Board! So much fun! 🦋🌾🚴‍♂️

09/12/2026

Today is Butterfly Big Day! Help scientists learn about struggling pollinators all over the world. It’s easy to participate by taking a photo of butterflies you see and uploading to iNaturalist. 🦋

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DmeRXeagC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/07/2026

Last week Monarch Joint Venture radio tagged several monarch butterflies at the Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. The miniature radio tags are attached to the monarch’s thorax and powered by tiny solar panels to transmit location data that can be tracked via an app called Project Monarch. Anyone can download the app and track these monarchs and their migration south. Check it out! It’s fascinating and historical! 🦋

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/project-monarch-science/id6460006970

Attention Omaha!
Swing by the zoo today to watch how scientists safely prepare and tag monarchs, track migration data through the Project Monarch Science app, and release them to continue their incredible journey.

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Children's Adventure Trails
September 4th, 9 am-5 pm

09/02/2026

Thank you Glenwood Iowa FFA Plant Science students for helping make seedballs for Pedal for the Prairie! We made Swamp Milkweed and Butterfly Milkweed seedballs that will be tossed along the route during the Pedal for the Prairie ride. Thank you to teacher Jessica Miller for the invite and your hospitality! 🚴‍♂️🦋✌️

https://www.goldenhillsrcd.org/pedalfortheprairie.html

08/26/2026

Come help us celebrate the Prairie! Here is a preview of the map where all the fun will be happening at Pedal for the Prairie, September 13, 1-4pm at the Glenwood Archaeological State Preserve.

Register by Friday, August 28th to order a
T-shirt! 🚴‍♂️🦋🌾

We hope to see you there!

Register here:
https://www.goldenhillsrcd.org/pedalfortheprairie.html
🌱

08/24/2026

Thank you Journey North for news on the Monarch migration. It’s happening! The first roost has been reported in northern Iowa! 🦋

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EqNQpQ3Kp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We've received our first fall roost reports from Iowa and Upper Michigan in recent days, as well as additional reports from Minnesota, where most of our roost observations have come from so far.

Monarch butterflies migrate alone during the day. They come down at night and gather in clusters, called roosts. Some roosts have only a handful of butterflies, while others will have hundreds or even thousands.

Roosts are a sure sign that some monarchs are migrating, but that doesn't mean all monarchs are on the move. Monarchs that emerge before about mid-August do not enter reproductive diapause as migrating monarchs do, and will continue to breed and lay eggs.

Whether you're seeing roosting monarchs or eggs and larvae, report your sightings to Journey North!

Photo: Racquel in Lake Lillian, Minnesota

08/23/2026

We’re making special seedballs for Pedal for the Prairie with Butterfly Milkweed or Asclepias tuberosa seed. We usually make our seedballs with Common Milkweed or Asclepias syriaca seed. The Glenwood Archaeological State Preserve has very little to none of this species. The seedballs will be tossed in the restored prairie and it will be a good experiment to see if we can get some Butterfly Milkweed established. With its orange flower, it should be easy to spot!

Register for Pedal for the Prairie before August 28th to order a T-shirt! 🦋

https://www.goldenhillsrcd.org/pedalfortheprairie.html

08/22/2026

The monarch migration is beginning! There has been observed roosting of butterflies in western Minnesota. If you observe a roost, make sure to log your observation on Journey North. 🦋

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ECt5cZYUd/?mibextid=wwXIfr