Educational Gardens

Butterfly Garden

The Grayhawk Butterfly Garden is found on the west side of the greenbelt that runs adjacent to Hayden Rd. in the Montevina Neighborhood. This garden covers nearly 8,000 square feet of space, with 162 feet of walking path.  It has 5 desert trees, 2 Saguaros and 50 Desert Milkweed shrubs.  It also has 3 benches for sitting and enjoying.  

Monarchs lay their eggs on the milkweed plant, many of which have been destroyed by farming or development. Grayhawk planted over 50 milkweed plants in the Butterfly Garden, along with everything else the monarchs need to survive and reproduce. In addition to a place to lay eggs, that includes food (shrubs and a tree that feature nectar-producing flowers), trees that provide places to rest and a regular water supply from grass sprinklers.

About Monarch Migration
Millions of Monarchs make their way to Mexico to overwinter/hibernate every year.  They stay there for a few months and then make their way back to America and Canada.  The out-migration takes place from August - November.  They return from March - June.  

You can follow a migration map (a good one can be found at journeynorth.org), to see the time of year you’re likely to see Monarchs in Arizona.  Their eggs will hatch.  They’ll be caterpillars for a few weeks.  They’ll eat leaves, fasten themselves to a plant, spin a pad of silk and stash themselves inside a chrysalis.  About 2 weeks later, they’ll exit the chrysalis as a butterfly.

And then, the cycle begins again.  Monarchs generally have a lifespan of 6 weeks, except those Methuselahs (what they’re actually called) that live up to 6 months and make that trek to Mexico.