Fall means the leaves change color and the weather gets colder. It’s the start of the Holiday season, scarves and cozy nights by the fire, as well as toasty drinks and pumpkins galore. Yet, many people don’t know that fall in Texas also means hundreds of Monarch Butterflies flying through as they head South for the winter.
Like birds, each year in September and October, hundreds of Monarchs from North America and Canada migrate south to Mexico for the winter, using Central Texas as their common meeting ground — from North Texas and the Hill Country to San Antonio.
Monarch Waystations
Just like every Tripper needs a Buc-ee’s for refueling with Kolaches and Beaver Nuggets on a road trip, these monarchs are also on the lookout for safe places to stop along their route, so Monarch Waystations have been created along the migration pathway. These waystations are special gardens made for just for butterflies that have plants to attract Monarchs, flowers with the nectar needed for pollination and refueling, and milkweed plants where butterflies can safely lay eggs. Texas actually has the most waystations in the country, with a total of 1,458!
Monarch Waystations are a great place to see dozens of butterflies buzzing around their natural habitat! Below is a list of a few along the migration path, but you can also check this map to see the thousands of other waystations around the state and country.
The Roys Meyer’s Children’s Adventure Garden at the Dallas Arboretum in Dallas, TX
Fort Worth Botanic Garden in Fort Worth, TX
IDEA Garden in Tyler, TX
DIG Butterfly Garden at the Brazos County Master Gardener Association in Bryant, TX
Fischer Park Butterfly Garden in New Braunfels, TX
Riverside Nature Center in Kerrville, TX
Old Fashion Garden at San Antonio Botanical Garden in San Antonio, TX
Texas Native Butterfly Garden at the San Marcos Discovery Center in San Marcos, TX
Doug Blachy Butterfly Trail and Garden at Zilker Park in Austin, TX
Find More Information
Can’t get enough of these little guys? Well neither can the town of San Antonio! Join them on Oct. 19-21 at The Pearl for the third annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival to celebrate the butterflies!
If you’re interested in learning more about the Monarch Migrations, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the United Department of Agriculture are great resources. Check Monarch Watch to get updated information about this year’s migration!
