Monarch Hotspots at Bethpage State Park!
When temperatures are warm and milkweed plants grow, Bethpage State Park (BSP) becomes a bountiful haven for the majestic Monarch Butterfly. Between perennial gardens and wildflower patches, flower boxes and golf course roughs, our park offers dozens of forage which becomes an extravagant buffet for butterflies! Yet, Monarchs also use BSP for shelter; a safe space to oviposit eggs and complete metamorphosis. This allows me to monitor different levels of monarch activity all throughout BSP. While this process takes time and patience, it is a real treat late summer-early fall when butterfly numbers surge. This year two specific spots stand out in mind! One hotspot is Bethpage State Park's Picnic Pollinator Garden. This extensive habitat is a beautiful space we created just for pollinators. With dedication and laborious effort, we have been able to include all the native plants you can think of : Lupines, Coneflowers, Blazing Stars (pictured above), Mountain Mint, Asters, Goldenro