Why Pollinators Matter — The Role of Swallowtails, Monarchs & Painted Ladies in Your Garden

You’ve probably heard that pollinators are in trouble. Bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects are facing habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and climate change. But here’s the hopeful part: your garden can be part of the solution.

At Blackborg Butterfly Sanctuary, we believe that one backyard, one planter box, or one school garden at a time can make a difference. And it starts with the three butterflies we know best—Swallowtails, Monarchs, and Painted Ladies.

What Is a Pollinator and Why Are They Important?

Pollinators are animals (mostly insects) that help move pollen from one plant to another, allowing plants to produce fruit, vegetables, seeds, and flowers. Without them, many of the foods we love wouldn’t exist—like apples, strawberries, almonds, and even chocolate!

Butterflies are not just pretty—they’re hardworking contributors to this cycle of life.

Meet the Butterfly Pollinators

Swallowtails: Graceful Garden Guests

Swallowtails are large, striking butterflies with tail-like extensions on their hindwings. There are many types, but some of the most common ones include the Eastern Black Swallowtail, Tiger Swallowtail, and Anise Swallowtail.

• They’re powerful flyers and love native nectar plants.

• Their caterpillars often feed on parsley, dill, fennel, and carrots—perfect for edible gardens.

• They play a key role in fertilizing a wide range of flowers in North America.

Want more Swallowtails? Plant their favorites and skip the pesticides.

Monarchs: Migrators on a Mission

Monarchs are iconic pollinators. As they migrate across the continent, they pollinate milkweed and wildflowers along the way.

• Monarchs lay eggs exclusively on milkweed, their host plant.

• Adults drink nectar from coneflowers, zinnias, goldenrod, and more.

• They help keep meadows, prairies, and gardens blooming and balanced.

By planting native milkweed, you support both their reproduction and the wider pollination network.

Painted Ladies: The Friendly Flyers

Painted Ladies are adaptable, fast-moving butterflies that visit a variety of flowers. Their caterpillars feed on thistle, mallow, and hollyhock, while adults love nectar from daisies, asters, and sunflowers.

• They help fertilize wildflowers and garden blooms alike.

• Their global migration patterns make them one of the most successful butterfly species.

• They’re excellent for pollinating container gardens, schoolyards, and urban spaces.

Painted Ladies are proof that pollination can happen anywhere—even in a flower pot.

How You Can Help

Helping pollinators doesn’t require a huge yard. Here are a few small actions with big impact:

• Plant native flowers and herbs that bloom throughout the seasons

• Avoid chemical pesticides and herbicides

• Provide host plants for caterpillars (like milkweed, parsley, and fennel)

• Add water sources, like shallow bowls with pebbles

• Let your wildflowers grow a little wild!

When you raise butterflies or plant for pollinators, you’re creating an oasis—one that supports biodiversity and gives back to the earth.

The Sanctuary Starts With You

At Blackborg, we believe a sanctuary doesn’t have to be acres of land. It can be a single raised bed, a butterfly kit in a classroom, or a row of zinnias by your front steps. Every flower planted is a vote for a better world.

Raise your own caterpillars!