Our Pollinator Mission - 1 Tree at a time

The Plight of the Monarch (And Why We Can't Wait)

We all love seeing butterflies in the garden, but the truth is, the Monarch population is in trouble. Over the last several years, an estimated 165 million acres of vital Monarch habitat have been lost due to development, agriculture, and climate shifts. In fact, experts estimate that we are losing an additional 1 to 1.5 million acres of their habitat every single year.

Because of this staggering loss of native wildflowers and milkweed, the insects are quite literally running out of places to rest, refuel, and reproduce.

What is the "Monarch Corridor"?

Monarchs in North America are the only butterflies known to make a predictable, long-distance annual migration. Every year, millions of Eastern Monarchs fly from their overwintering grounds in Mexico all the way up to the Canadian border, and then back again.

This massive journey takes four full generations to complete.

The Monarch Corridor (often called the I-35 Corridor because it generally follows Interstate 35 from Texas up through Minnesota) is the primary flyway these butterflies use. To survive this incredible multi-generational relay race, they need a continuous path of habitat. They need nectar-rich flowers for energy to fly, and they exclusively need milkweed to lay their eggs, as it is the only plant their caterpillars can eat.

When large tracts of land are developed, it breaks this corridor. The butterflies get exhausted, starve, or cannot find milkweed to lay the next generation of eggs. 

How Planting Trees Actually Helps the Bees

When we talk about saving the bees, most people immediately think of planting wildflowers. But did you know that trees are actually some of the most important food and habitat sources for pollinators?

• Crucial Early Spring Food: When bees emerge in early spring, most garden flowers and weeds haven't started blooming yet. Early-blooming native trees (like maples, willows, and redbuds) provide the massive amounts of nectar and pollen that hungry bees desperately need to survive and jumpstart their colonies.

• Massive Volume of Blooms: Think of a tree as a high-rise buffet. A single mature canopy can hold tens of thousands of blossoms. It would take an entire meadow of wildflowers to equal the amount of food provided by just one flowering tree.

• Vital Nesting Habitat: While honeybees live in hives, about 30% of native bee species are "cavity nesters." They rely on the hollow stems, pithy twigs, and wood of trees and shrubs to lay their eggs and safely survive the winter.

By planting trees in the corridor, you aren't just giving Monarchs a place to rest on their migration—you are building sustainable homes and massive food sources for local bee populations.

How Your Garden Sign Helps

"I wanted to find a way for everyday gardeners to make a massive impact without needing to own acres of land."

That is where our mission-driven sign collection comes in.

While our "Feed the Bees" sign is a fan-favorite best seller, it is actually one of four unique designs in our collection—alongside our "Farmacy," "Eat Local," and Monarch Butterfly signs.

Every single time any of these signs is purchased, a portion of the proceeds goes directly toward planting a real tree in the North American Monarch Corridor.

You get a beautiful, weatherproof piece of art to brighten up your garden beds, and the pollinators get a brand-new habitat to help them survive. It is a win-win for your yard and the earth.