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Milkweed for Monarch Butterflies

Events in March 2024

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
February 25, 2024
February 26, 2024
February 27, 2024(1 event)

City Council Regular Meeting


February 27, 2024

CLICK HERE for Agenda

This site is accessible to disabled individuals.  For special assistance, please contact the City Secretary at (281) 983-2931 prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.  The City of Meadows Place is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Due to elections taking place at City Hall, the City Council Regular Meeting will be held Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., at Meadows Place EOC/Training Center, 11975 W. Airport Blvd., Meadows Place, Texas 77477. There will be no Live Stream.

CLICK HERE for Agenda

February 28, 2024
February 29, 2024
March 1, 2024(1 event)

Last Day of Primary Early Voting

N/A
March 1, 2024

March 2, 2024
March 3, 2024
March 4, 2024
March 5, 2024(1 event)

Primary Election Day

N/A
March 5, 2024

March 6, 2024
March 7, 2024
March 8, 2024
March 9, 2024
March 10, 2024(1 event)

Daylight Saving Time Begins

N/A
March 10, 2024

March 11, 2024(1 event)

FBISD Spring Breaks

N/A
March 11, 2024

March 12, 2024
March 13, 2024
March 14, 2024(1 event)

EDC Meeting


March 14, 2024

CLICK HERE for Agenda

This site is accessible to disabled individuals.  For special assistance, please contact the City Secretary at (281) 983-2931 prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.  The City of Meadows Place is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

CLICK HERE for Agenda

March 15, 2024
March 16, 2024
March 17, 2024(1 event)

St. Patrick's Day

N/A
March 17, 2024

March 18, 2024
March 19, 2024
March 20, 2024
March 21, 2024
March 22, 2024
March 23, 2024(1 event)

Family Campout


March 23, 2024 March 24, 2024

https://cityofmeadowsplace.org/7th-annual-family-campout-march-23-24-2024-mcgrath-park/

March 24, 2024(1 event)

Family Campout


March 23, 2024 March 24, 2024

https://cityofmeadowsplace.org/7th-annual-family-campout-march-23-24-2024-mcgrath-park/

March 25, 2024
March 26, 2024(1 event)

City Council Regular Meeting


March 26, 2024

CLICK HERE for Agenda

This site is accessible to disabled individuals.  For special assistance, please contact the City Secretary at (281) 983-2931 prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.  The City of Meadows Place is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

CLICK HERE for Agenda

March 27, 2024
March 28, 2024
March 29, 2024(1 event)

City Offices Closed - Good Friday

N/A
March 29, 2024

March 30, 2024
March 31, 2024(1 event)

Easter Sunday

N/A
March 31, 2024

April 1, 2024(1 event)

April Fools' Day

N/A
April 1, 2024

April 2, 2024
April 3, 2024
April 4, 2024(1 event)

Last Day to Register to Vote in City Election

N/A
April 4, 2024

April 5, 2024(1 event)

Concerts in the Park


April 5, 2024

?Are you ready for our Concerts in the Park series? ?
Mark your calendars now so you don’t miss the fun!
??Friday, April 5th 7 – 9 PM
??Friday, April 12th 7 – 9 PM
??Friday, April 26th 7 – 9 PM
In addition to the great music, food, and community, our Youth Action Council will be hosting a 'Light the Night' event at the concert on Friday, April 26th. This event aims to raise money for Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana, helping to grant a local child's wish to go to Disney World. Lanterns will be available for purchase for $5 each during the event.
Our kickoff to summer event will be taking place on Friday, June 7th. Be sure to follow us to get the latest information.

April 6, 2024

Milkweed for Monarchs

Milkweed is the host plant for Monarch butterflies. The female butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed so the caterpillars can eat the leaves which allows them to build up a toxin that makes the caterpillars and butterflies undesirable to predators that may try to eat them. This toxin is also dangerous to humans so hands should always be washed after touching milkweed, especially the milky white sap inside.

Milkweed is the only plant the monarchs eat so it is essential to their survival. Luckily there are many varieties of milkweed that grow in a variety of climates allowing the monarchs the ability to migrate all over the United States and into Mexico.

 

Tropical Milkweed is easily identifiable by its yellow and orange flowers and can grow to be 3’ to 5’ tall. It is the easiest to find in nurseries. It is native to the American Tropics and in our area requires cutting back in the fall so it can start new clean shoots from the roots the following spring. It is also important to cut it back so the Monarch butterflies will continue their migration to Mexico and not stop here to hibernate over winter. The migration of the Monarchs helps keep the species healthy and limits the diseases they can spread to each other.

 

 

The Meadows Place Children’s Garden has been experimenting with some of the native varieties of milkweed for our area. Last Summer we grew four different native varieties and had the most success with “Aquatic Milkweed” Asclepias Perennis and “Butterfly Weed” Asclepias Tuberosa. These varieties grow to be 18” tall so they are ideal to plant within a garden around your home. Since they are native to this area they naturally die back in the fall and will reemerge from their roots in the spring.

Aquatic Milkweed has white flowers and does not need to be planted in water but seems to really like our wetter climate. Butterfly milkweed has solid orange flowers and does well in our clay heavy soil. Once established they are both drought tolerant. By planting in groups of 3 or so scattered around a garden in sunny to partly shady areas you can provide lots of space for Monarch caterpillars to hide from predators as well as allowing cross pollination of plants so you will get seedpods in the fall.

To learn more about Monarchs and supporting other native butterflies join our private Facebook group “Meadows Place Community Garden”. The Children’s Garden meets Wednesdays after school 3:45-4:30.                                                                    

Written By: Krystin Stegemeier, Meadows Place Children’s Community Garden Coordinator | 713-447-6144