Community Effort in Cypress Saves Monarch Butterflies with Habitat Gardens

The Monarch Butterfly Decline

• 🦋 Millions of monarch butterflies undertake an annual migration, but there are significant concerns about their survival.
• 📉 Monarch butterflies have experienced about a 90% decline in recent decades.
• ⚠️ Key factors contributing to this decline include climate change, increased use of pesticides, and significant habitat loss.

Taylor Morrison's Monarch Gardens Initiative

• 🏡 At Avalon at Cypress, homebuilder Taylor Morrison has established a certified monarch butterfly garden.
• 🤝 This initiative is part of a partnership with the National Wildlife Federation, ongoing since 2019.
• 📍 Taylor Morrison has created 100 such gardens nationally, with five located in the Houston area.

Creating a Safe Haven

• 🌸 The butterfly gardens provide monarchs with a path of pesticide-free plants and flowers essential for their survival.
• 🏠 Guidelines require providing shelter for different stages of the butterfly's development and access to water.
• 🏘️ Establishing these pockets of native plantings within a built environment is a strategic approach to aid monarch recovery.

Impact and Future Plans

• 🐝 The gardens are crucial for monarchs, which play a vital role in pollinating wild flowers and crops.
• ✅ The presence of monarchs and hummingbirds in the garden serves as firsthand proof that the habitat is effective and utilized.
• 🗺️ Taylor Morrison plans to build additional butterfly gardens in the Houston area, demonstrating a commitment to conservation efforts.