Your City of Troutdale Parks Department has been working on creating pollinator gardens at Sunrise Park to attract the Monarch butterfly, whose habitat has been largely lost in this area. Sunrise Park happens to be in the migration path of the Monarch. While the Monarch is not considered an endangered species, its population has plummeted to record lows in recent years, according to the U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Pollinator gardens are planted and designed with specific nectar and pollen producing plants, in a way that attracts pollinating insects. By mixing in milkweed and nectar plants with Sunrise Park's existing plant species, we hope to help re-establish the Monarch's migrating population as they will have new a food source and habitat in which to live. We established our first pollinator garden in 2020 and will begin work on our second garden this year.
Our end goal is to become a Monarch Waystation with a thriving population of Monarch butterflies returning each year to pollinate our wildflowers and contribute to the health of our planet.
If you are interested in volunteering to help maintain the pollinator gardens, we are holding more orientation events: Thursday, March 11 at 11:00 a.m. and Tuesday, March 16 at 11:00 a.m., and again from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.. Be sure to bring a mask, your favorite weeding tools such as a trowel or hoe, gloves and whatever else you think you might need.
If you can't make those sessions, stay tuned to learn about more volunteer opportunities. We're hoping to put together a group that will volunteer once a week for weeding, planting, and maintaining the gardens. For more information please email tim.seery [at] troutdaleoregon.gov (Parks & Facilities Superintendent Tim Seery) or call him at 503-674-7271.
