With fall comes the return of the Monarch butterflies! From November to February, the Pismo Monarch Butterfly Groves are home to thousands of beautiful orange butterflies.
Most of the butterflies come from as far north as Canada. They can’t handle the freezing winters, so the butterflies west of the Rocky Mountains come to our very own Pismo Beach to enjoy our milder weather. The ones to the east head to Mexico or the Gulf Coast where it’s warmer, with some traveling over 2,000 miles!
Located at 445 South Dolliver Street, the Pismo Monarch Groves are a wonderful day trip, the eucalyptus trees are covered in thousands of hibernating butterflies. Entry is free, and during peak season there are docent talks weekends at noon. Kids will love watching the butterflies flutter around, or it’s also the perfect first date, though I might be biased–it was my first date with my fiance!
While there have historically been tens of thousands of butterflies that spend the winter in Pismo Beach, last year was record-breakingly low. Loss of habitat and pesticide use have severely impacted the population. You can help by planting native nectar-rich flowers in your garden, and especially the Monarchs’ favorite food, milkweed. (If you live within five miles of the Butterfly Groves, skip the milkweed–it could interfere with their normal migration routes. Instead, plant fall- and winter-blooming flowers.)
Experts are hoping for a strong season this year, so take a trip to Pismo Beach and see these stunning butterflies. It’s the perfect way to brighten up a cold winter day, they’re only here for a short time!
To learn more about the Butterfly Groves, visit https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30273
For information on Central Coast native plants, visit https://cnpsslo.org/resources/growing-natives/