Monarch Butterflies

The beauty and wonder of  Monarch butterflies inspired me to begin designing greeting cards. We take these gorgeous and amazing flying flowers for granted, yet we shouldn’t. Their habitat is shrinking and their population has really dropped in recent years.

The magnificent Monarch butterfly is the only butterfly that migrates north and south every year. In North America, Monarch butterflies east of the Rocky Mountains migrate south to Mexico starting in August until the first frost. In the spring, the Monarch butterflies head north.  Several generations are needed to make the round-trip journey.

According to Monarch Watch, huge migrations may be a thing of the past. Monarch butterflies are losing their habitat, both in Mexico where the trees where they winter are cut down and in the north where the milkweed plants they depend on to feed their caterpillars and wild nectar flowers to feed adults are plowed over and destroyed. To learn more, including how to create a Monarch Butterfly Waystation, go to Monarch Watch. Monarch Watch was formed twenty years ago to promote education about and conservation and research of Monarch butterflies.

Artists at Greeting Card Universe have celebrated the beauty of this gorgeous butterfly in greeting cards. Click on the thumbnails to get a larger view.

I’ve written about Monarch Butterfly conservation and education at Monarch Watch and have included many photographs, which you can see by clicking on Monarch Watch Open House and Butterfly Tagging Event.

Here are other blog posts from GCU artists featuring butterflies.

A Bit of Fun with Colorful Butterflies
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been intrigued with the beauty of butterflies…”
Sunshine’s Creative Explorations, Donna Lorello

The Delicate Life of a Butterfly
“So you have a great love for butterflies?”
Sheryl Kasper Card Store, Sheryl Kasper

Beautiful Butterflies
“I have noticed lots of butterflies lately…”
Dragonfire Graphics, Betsy Bush

To a Butterfly
“I’ve watched you now a full half-hour…”
Photography TK Designs, Tracie

Greeting Card Universe & Butterfly Changes
“I started this blog as a way to promote greeting cards…”
Janet Lee Designs, Janet Palaggi

Papillon: The Butterfly Dog
“The big dog in the small body…”
DogBreedz, Peggy Mundell

Monarch Butterflies
“The beauty and wonder of Monarch butterflies inspired me…”
It’s a Beautiful World, Catherine Sherman

Good Luck
“A most unusual thing happened this week when I was gardening…”
Painted Cottage, Judith Cheng

Butterflies
“Imagine, Dare, Do!”
Naquiaya’s Cards, Naquaiya

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