Community Profile

Pledge Status

Active

Pledge Date

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Program Year

2024

Links and Uploads

View Links and Uploads

Action Item Report

Download Report

Town of Black Mountain

Black Mountain , NC

Mike Sobol

Mr.

Pledge Summary

The town of Black Mountain is along a major fall migration route for the monarch butterfly on their journey South across the Blue Ridge Mountains towards Mexico. We have thousands pass through our town and public parks during last week of September and/or 1st week of October annually. In 2015 we created our 1st Monarch Waystation in a 10 acre field in our Veterans Park that is right along the migration route to make an inviting place for monarchs to stop to fuel up with nectar from native aster and goldenrod on their journey. This field as over 500 common milkweed plants where monarchs also lay eggs April through June each spring and is filled with purple clover which seems to be one of their favorite sources of nectar locally.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2024

Communications and Convening

  • Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
  • Engage with city parks and recreation, public works, sustainability, and other relevant staff to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting 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.
  • Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
  • Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change

  • Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.