The Outdoor Committee is proud to announce the establishment of a Native Prairie Butterfly Garden & Monarch Waystation along the Meadowlarks walking trail. This vibrant pollinator haven is located on the east side of the trail next to the second park bench northeast of the bridge behind the CenterPoint Clinic, just southeast of the Monarch apartments.

This special project honors the tallgrass prairies that once blanketed North America and supports the full lifecycle of native butterflies—especially the beloved monarch.

 

What is a Monarch Waystation?

More than just a beautiful garden, this is a functioning ecosystem. Thoughtfully planted with native wildflowers, milkweeds, and prairie grasses, it provides a nectar-rich rest stops for migrating adult butterflies, breeding grounds with milkweed host plants for caterpillars, and a safe shelter from spring through fall.

Waystations like these, whether in parks, backyards, or schoolyards, play a vital role in keeping the monarch migration alive and fluttering.

In the Butterfly Garden, you will find:

~ Milkweed (Asclepias spp.), the only plant monarch caterpillars can eat. Must have milkweed plants include Common  Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, and Swamp Milkweed.

~ Nectar plants for adults, which provide fuel from spring to fall. Favorites include Purple Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Blazing Star, Bee Balm, Asters, and Goldenrod.

~ Native prairie grasses, which offer shelter and structure and includes Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, and Big Bluestem.

~ A water source in the form of a shallow pebble-filled dish, which helps butterflies and bees hydrate safely.

~ A sunny, sheltered location because butterflies need the warmth of the sun to fly and feed.

 

Why does a Monarch Waystation matter in Manhattan, Kan.?

Our city sits directly in the Central Flyway, a critical route in the monarch’s 3,000-mile migration between Mexico and Canada.

In spring, monarchs rely on Kansas milkweed to lay their eggs as they head north. In fall, their descendants stop here again, feeding and resting before continuing the journey back south.

Every year, millions of monarch butterflies embark on one of nature’s most extraordinary migrations—a multi-generational, continent-spanning journey that connects the mountains of Mexico to the prairies of Canada. It’s a story of resilience, transformation, and incredible endurance, and it all starts with a single milkweed plant.

As spring unfolds, the monarch’s northbound migration begins. But unlike typical animal migrations, this journey is a relay race across generations. The first generation departs overwintering sites in Mexico and lays eggs in the southern United States, often in Texas. These eggs hatch into caterpillars, transform into butterflies, and continue the trek.

By the time the second generation emerges, they are already further north, reaching places like our own beloved state of Kansas. Generation three might make it all the way to the northern U.S. or even Canada. In some years, a fourth generation pushes even farther before the seasons change. Each of these butterflies lives only two to six weeks, but together, they cover thousands of miles.

Then, something remarkable happens. In late summer, a final generation is born, and these are not ordinary monarchs, but a “super generation.” These butterflies don’t just live for a few weeks — they can survive up to eight months. Unlike their parents, they delay reproduction and enter a state called diapause, allowing them to conserve energy.

With strong wings and stored fat, this generation makes the incredible 2,000–3,000-mile journey south, all the way to the oyamel fir forests of central Mexico. There, they cluster by the millions to overwinter, resting until spring cues them to start the cycle again.

The monarch’s migration is only part of their wonder. Each butterfly undergoes a stunning four-stage life cycle.

      1. Egg: Tiny and round, laid delicately on milkweed leaves.

      2. Caterpillar (Larva): Striped and hungry, munching milkweed and molting as it grows.

      3. Chrysalis (Pupa): A jade-green casing where transformation unfolds in about 10 days.

      4. Adult Butterfly: Emerging with vibrant wings, drying in the sun before its journey begins.

As native habitat disappears and climate patterns shift, waystations and butterfly gardens filled with milkweed and nectar-rich plants are more vital than ever. These patches provide critical rest stops for migrating monarchs and safe places to raise the next generation. Every flower planted, every garden tended, becomes part of a continent-wide corridor of life.

By planting even one butterfly garden in Manhattan, you’re helping preserve a miracle of migration. Let’s keep the wings of wonder fluttering for generations to come.