Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services New Rogue River fire chief comes from firefighting family Water service offered to Shady Cove Phoenix Council race draws a full house Colony rescue Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Bank robbery reported at Court Street US Bank Emergency Services Officials pin down source of Mt. Shasta mudslide Emergency Services Politics and Elections Phoenix Council race draws a full house Sheriff a no-show at Chamber candidate forum Southern Oregon's Dennis Richardson woos liberal Portland Matthew T. Mangino: Federal government complicit in militarization of police Jim Brock: You go, Madam Senator Education Some say anti-bullying program goes too far Phoenix man is Oregon's History Teacher of the Year Controversial book spurs battle at school board meeting K-12 enrollment up countywide, except for Medford Homework matters Environment Bringing back the monarchs New disease strikes Roseburg deer herds Dredgers might return to the Rogue next year Dubs' auction preview draws bidders and gawkers OR-7's pups are true wolves State news Nation - World Obituaries Richard Lee Head Nadine Whitman Archer Mark A. Gosnell Harry MacDuffie Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Kershaw, Dodgers beat Giants 9-1 to claim West title St. Mary’s boys slip by Challengers Turning point (No heading) Pac-12 season starts with wild first month Varsity 541 College Sports Pac-12 season starts with wild first month Riley says USC presents very similar look 49ers’ Harbaugh eyeing some quick fixes Allen emerges as one of Oregon’s top targets With Bolden out, other Oregon State receivers step up Pro Sports Kershaw, Dodgers beat Giants 9-1 to claim West title Tannehill: Starting, dealing with Philbin created distraction Kemp, Turner power Dodgers past Giants, 4-2 Bettman says NHL has no plans to expand Bears hold on to defeat Jets Community Sports Barry fires back into SOGC finals Super seniors strong at SOGC Crenshaw pulls off upset in SOGC Business Latest Stories Mt. Ashland sets forth plan for season Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters Blog: Fall Into a New Season Tenants begin moving into One West Main Mike and Laura Naumes named First Citizens Real Estate News Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters Tenants begin moving into One West Main Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround Historic building owners get lessons in restoration Pleasant weather, stable interest rates spurred summer home sales People In Business Transportation Agriculture Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround 1-800-Flowers.com buying Harry & David for $142.5 million Earlier than normal pear harvest coming up short of expectations Opinion Latest Forest Service plan tramples First Amendment Dana Milbank: Obama is liberals' lesser evil George Will: High stakes in Kansas Letters to the Editor, Sept. 25 Granlund cartoon: US bombs ISIS Editorials Forest Service plan tramples First Amendment Our View: Viaduct study will confirm what everyone knows Thumbs up to Art+Sound; down to Kitzhaber Our view: City should ease up on alcohol ban Impaired voting; Whether driving high increases accidents isn’t known Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Sept. 25 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 24 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 23 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 22 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 21 Guest Opinions Manor residents give in many ways Transparency is essential in O&C debate Hazardous fuel treatments vital to protection from severe wildfires Wilderness for Kalmiopsis has served us well Lifestyle Latest stories New festival will celebrate smoked salmon Dripped or sprinkled? Grape growers are talking water Seniors get in the groove with ukuleles Blog: HAIKU MONDAY: On Meat Fishing the Rogue Bay Community blog: Menopause: What's it Good For? Part 2 Food New festival will celebrate smoked salmon Community blog: Low oven setting yields easy 'sun-dried' tomatoes Wholesale program puts Rogue Valley food in aisles Backpack stuffers add zest to fall outings Community blog: Taste cherry tomatoes to judge sweetness, acidity Home and Garden Start now for a bowl of winter sunshine Counting the reasons to keep your eating local Medford gardens to be showcased Saturday Trees aren't always the best companions for plants Hot tips for a cool (shade) garden Health Community blog: Menopause: What's it Good For? Part 2 For the brain, there’s no such thing as over the hill Local health clinics land federal grants to hire medical, dental staff Community blog: Do You Love Enough To Heal Your Dog And Cat? To Bring An Elephant To Tears? Community blog: Well...Is It? Hiking Faith Religion briefs Religion Briefs Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' New Arrivals Wedding New Arrivals Barbecue will support treatment for stricken skateboarder Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Blues duo releases 'Over the Moon' Music in the Mountains returns to Prospect Randall Theatre presents 'Blithe Spirit' A tribute to a great lyricist The Brothers Reed Theater Randall Theatre presents 'Blithe Spirit' A tribute to a great lyricist 'Mrs. Mannerly' is a matter of manners There's no accounting for poor manners Friends of Jim Giancarlo remember Ashland theater icon Music Blues duo releases 'Over the Moon' Music in the Mountains returns to Prospect The Brothers Reed Sol Seed plays Lounge South Danielle Kelly: A Rogue Valley Experience Community Events Greater Medford Multicultural Fair Volunteers needed for Downtown Art + Sound Medford's Third Fridays Downtown Art + Sound Festival Oregon Poet Laureate Peter Sears reads in Ashland Dining 'Get Giddy' at Porters Jacksonville's Thai House is everything good Thai should be Ami Sushi serves up Asian dishes Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Sheriff a no-show at Chamber candidate forum ... Gold Hill City Council could tax recreational pot up to 25 percent ... Bank robbery reported at Court Street US Bank ... Sheriff a no-show at Chamber candidate forum ... Gold Hill City Council could tax recreational pot up to 25 percent ... Bank robbery reported at Court Street US Bank ... ENVIRONMENT Bringing back the monarchs Milkweed gardens planted across the Rogue Valley are beginning to pay off. By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 22, 2014 @ 2:00 am By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 22, 2014 @ 2:00 am Grow your own --> Would you like to grow your own monarch butterfly waystation? Tom Landis has collected excess milkweed seeds that he gives away to those wanting to plant these monarch magnets. The see... » Read more X Grow your own Would you like to grow your own monarch butterfly waystation? Tom Landis has collected excess milkweed seeds that he gives away to those wanting to plant these monarch magnets. The seeds can be wrapped in mulch and clay and planted. To get seeds, email Landis at [email protected] . » Social News CENTRAL POINT — A little square patch of fuzzy white plants grows along Hanley Road's gravel shoulder, of little consequence to passersby and perhaps the future target of a county road crew's weed patrol. Tom Landis planted this patch of milkweed the size of a card table last spring with seeds he collected himself, hoping his if-you-plant-it-they-will-come project could mean regular visits from rare monarch butterflies, perhaps as early as next year. But the retired Forest Service nursery expert peeled back the fuzz last week to find a tiger-striped, green-and-white monarch caterpillar munching away on his heavenly smorgasbord. This pile of weeds is gold to its royal denizens. "When I saw that caterpillar, I almost fell over," Landis says. "I had no expectations. I didn't expect to find any out here. It's amazing." New milkweed gardens planted specifically to draw migrating monarch butterflies are paying off around the Rogue Valley, showing promise in returning the royal bugs to local prominence. The patch Landis planted last spring beneath the J. Herbert Stone Nursery sign along Hanley Road already has produced five caterpillars from monarchs that recently bred there. A plot he planted last year in his east Medford yard produced one caterpillar last year, but the noxious milkweed there is closing in on 30 caterpillars this year. And these aren't your average royal flutterers. These late-season caterpillars are the fourth generation of the year, the so-called "super generation" of monarchs that live as long as eight months and can famously fly more than 2,000 miles to winter along the Southern California and northern Mexican coastlines before getting back in the air to start anew next year. "These guys are going to be the elite athletes of monarchs," Landis says. Milkweed is the only plant monarch caterpillars eat, yet the noxious weed is regularly targeted for removal by landowners as well as weed-abatement programs. Half a century ago, when milkweed was more plentiful here, the Rogue Valley teemed with monarchs throughout the summer and fall. But in the past two decades, research shows that monarch populations in the West have dropped to one-sixth of what they were. Landis and others are trying to reverse this trend by bringing back the weed, one little patch at a time. Others he planted this year at Blue Heron Park in Phoenix, Valley of the Rogue State Park near Gold Hill and McGregor Park near Lost Creek Dam have yet to produce breeding monarchs, but they could sprout royal insects as early as next spring. Landis also has a five-gallon bucket full of seeds ready to dole out to other shade-tree butterfly-o-philes to plant so they can chum in some monarchs, as well. "Like all wildlife, the idea is habitat," Landis says. "You have to have habitat." For monarchs, that means milkweed for caterpillars to feed on for the two weeks during which they fatten up before they form a chrysalis. When they emerge in about two weeks, they are bright adults ready to fly up to 40 miles a day to their summer haunts. The first three generations of monarchs that hatched this year all live about 10 weeks, unlike these fourth-generation bugs that will return in the spring to start the next cycle. When they do, they'll not only find the milkweed Landis has planted for them but also the Oregon sunshine and other nectar-producing native plants to feed the adults. The Stone nursery plot has signs detailing why it's there and what it's producing, as well as an invitation for others to drink the milkweed Kool-Aid and create their own when-you-plant-it-they-will-come moment. "You literally can make a difference," Landis says. "There you are. It's cool." Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman. By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 22, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501