Native Plants, Local Action
Join Us in Restoring Monarch Habitats

The Village of Marvin & Habitat Builders are proud to participate in the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, a nationwide initiative that empowers local governments to take meaningful action to support monarch butterflies and other native pollinators.

Through this pledge, Marvin joins hundreds of municipalities working to reverse the decline of monarch populations by restoring habitat, educating the public, and engaging residents, schools, and community partners in conservation efforts.

Help Spread the Word about the Marvin Mayor’s Monarch Pledge!
Show your support for monarch and pollinator conservation by stopping by Marvin Village Hall during business hours or during a Council/Board meeting to pick up a commemorative sticker!

The Marvin Mayor’s Monarch Pledge logo was designed by Poulami Das, former Planning Technician & Deputy Clerk.

The Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, led by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), is a voluntary commitment by mayors and local leaders to take specific, measurable actions that support monarch butterfly conservation. Monarch populations have declined significantly in recent decades due to habitat loss, reduced availability of native milkweed, pesticide use, and climate-related impacts.

Local action plays a critical role in monarch recovery. By creating habitat on public land, encouraging native planting in neighborhoods, and increasing community awareness, municipalities can help rebuild the network of pollinator-friendly spaces monarchs need to survive and migrate.

On December 9, 2025, Mayor Joseph M. Barbara issued an official proclamation affirming Marvin’s participation in the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge.

• Read the Marvin Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Proclamation

Through this commitment, the Village of Marvin pledges to:

Communications and Convening

• Issue a proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat. This proclamation must incorporate a focus on monarch conservation.
• Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods. (If you have community members who speak a language other than English, we encourage you to also communicate in that language; Champion Pledges must communicate in that language.)
• Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
• Engage with gardening leaders and partners (e.g., Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Nature Centers, Native Plant Society Chapters, other long-standing and influential community leaders) to support monarch butterfly conservation.
• Engage with Homeowners Associations (HOAs), Community Associations or neighborhood organizations to identify opportunities to plant monarch gardens and revise maintenance and mowing programs.

Program and Demonstration Gardens

• Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
• Earn or maintain recognition for being a wildlife-friendly city by participating in other wildlife and habitat conservation efforts (i.e., National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitat program).
• Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
• Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
• Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

The Village of Marvin’s participation in the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge is guided by the following goals:

• Raise awareness of Marvin’s participation in the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge.
• Educate the public on the importance of monarchs and pollinator conservation.
• Engage residents, HOAs, schools, and community partners in habitat-building activities.
• Demonstrate Marvin’s environmental leadership and commitment to community involvement.

Education & Partnerships

• Collaboration with Marvin Elementary School to incorporate monarch and pollinator education into school activities.
  • On Tuesday, February 10, Kristyna Culp of Habitat Builders taught 2nd Graders at Marvin Elementary about Monarch butterflies! 95 students attended, with each student receiving a monarch-themed coloring page and a commemorative Marvin Mayor's Monarch Pledge sticker!
• Partnership with Habitat Builders, the local chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, to cross-promote the pledge through garden cleanups, invasive plant removal events, and community education.
• Development of educational and branded signage, including QR codes, for use in demonstration gardens, HOAs, and resident gardens.

Demonstration Gardens & Habitat Projects

• Village Hall Park Demonstration Garden: A pollinator-friendly garden installation planned for late winter/early spring, featuring native plants and educational signage explaining their value to monarchs and pollinators.
• HOA Demonstration Gardens: HOA-led garden projects, including a demonstration garden at Wyndham Hall, with technical guidance and educational support.
• Ongoing cultivation of pollinator plants and plugs to support future installations.
• Residents and HOAs will also receive information on recommended native plant sources and pollinator garden kits to support home and neighborhood participation.

Monarch conservation is a community-wide effort. Residents can support the pledge by:

• Planting native milkweed and nectar plants at home.
• Supporting monarch-friendly landscaping in HOA common areas.
• Volunteering at community cleanups and habitat projects.
• Learning about monarchs and sharing information with neighbors and friends.

Together, we can create a network of pollinator-friendly spaces that supports monarch butterflies and strengthens Marvin’s natural environment.

The Village of Marvin is proud to support Habitat Builders in their latest effort for the Marvin Mayor’s Monarch Pledge! To help pollinator gardens grow and thrive in our community, Habitat Builders has secured a discount with My Home Park; use coupon code SAVEMONARCHS for a 10% discount!

• Visit MyHomePark.com for the Marvin Mayor's Monarch Pledge Plant Sale!

Note: The Village is sharing this as a resource for the Monarch Pledge initiative. While we are excited to see these gardens grow, the Village does not receive any proceeds from these sales.

We'll also be adding fun facts about Monarchs below throughout this iniative, so come back and continue to learn more! We'll also be sharing these fun facts on our social media, so make sure you follow the Village of Marvin on Facebook & Instagram!

• Follow @VillageOfMarvin on Facebook
• Follow @VillageOfMarvin on Instagram

Did you know? The Latin name for Monarch Butterflies is "danaus plexippus," which means "sleepy transformation." Monarch butterflies are iconic pollinators and an important indicator of ecosystem health. Their dramatic population decline over the last several decades highlights broader environmental challenges affecting pollinators nationwide. Protecting monarchs helps:

• Support pollination of native plants and food crops.
• Improve biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
• Create healthier, more sustainable landscapes for people and wildlife.

Small, local actions—such as planting milkweed, reducing invasive species, and creating pollinator-friendly gardens—can collectively make a significant impact.

Monarchs are a fairly large butterfly and definitely catch your attention in the garden. The adults (the butterfly) will feed on lots of different plants but prefer native plants like Solidago (Goldenrod), Symphyotrichum (Asters), Echinacea (Coneflower), Liatris, Monarda (Bee Balm). They will also nectar on non-native species like Zinnias, Cosmos and Lantana. The adults are not as picky as the babies!

It's relatively easy to tell the males from the females. Males have two thicker lines on their hind wings. These lines are called pouches. The caterpillar is distinctive as well. Remember that they start out small, but grow quickly. You’ll only see them on Asclepias (milkweed)!

Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed, making it their sole host plant. Without milkweed, monarchs would not survive.

Asclepias (es-KLEE-pee-us), commonly known as milkweed, includes dozens of native species. Locally, the most common are Asclepias syriaca, Asclepias tuberosa, and Asclepias incarnata. While their flowers provide attractive, nectar-rich resources for pollinators, the leaves are essential for monarch caterpillars.

This map from Monarch Watch shows the migration path for Eastern and Western Monarchs. While they are not different species, they rarely intermingle.

Monarchs are the only butterflies to complete a two-way migration and are the only tropical butterflies to fly as much as 3,000 miles during migration. This migration is comparable to migratory birds and whales; the difference is that a butterfly only makes the trip once.

Did you know? The Monarch population has decreased >80% since the 1990s due to habitat loss from development, excess herbicide / pesticide use and climate change.

Did you know that adult Monarchs need high-quality nectar to power their incredible journeys? While their "babies" (caterpillars) only eat Milkweed, the adults love a diverse buffet! If you want a butterfly-friendly backyard, look for these native favorites:

• Goldenrod (Solidago)
• Aster (Symphyotrichum)
• Bee Balm (Monarda)
• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea)
• Ironweed (Vernonia)
• Blazing Star (Liatris)

Choosing native plants ensures our local pollinators get the best nutrition possible. Which of these do you have in your garden?

Most adult monarchs live only 2-6 weeks, but the "Super Generation"—the last group born before fall—can live up to 9 months. This final generation completes the long migration south and survives the winter before heading back north the lay the season's first eggs.

Did You Know? Metamorphosis: Monarch eggs take 3-5 days to hatch. Caterpillars eat for 10-14 days before becoming a chrysalis. Adult Monarchs emerge after 10-14 days and live for 2-6 weeks.

Kristyna Culp
Habitat Builders Director
Contact Habitat Builders
 

Austin W. Yow
Village Clerk & Assistant to the Manager
Phone: (704) 843-1680, Press 5
Fax: (704) 843-1660
Contact the Village Clerk