12 Sep 2024

Pollinator Garden Playbook: Supporting the Western North American Population of Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and the Endangered Smith’s Blue Butterfly (Euphilotes enoptes smithi) on Military Lands

Abstract: The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center–Environmental Lab (ERDC-EL) researchers assisted the US Army Garrison Presidio of Monterey in 2021 to assess the feasibility of pollinator gardens at select locations in Monterey, California. The proposed pollinator gardens were to be designed to support the western population of the North American monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), the federally endangered Smith’s blue butterfly (Euphilotes enoptes smithi), and other pollinators found in the Monterey area. This technical report documents planning and design considerations for these pollinator gardens situated on the grounds of the Presidio of Monterey (POM) and the Ord Military Community (OMC). Site preparations, recommended plant species, garden designs, installation methods, and invasive species management are discussed. The contents herein can be used as a general playbook for similar pollinator habitat improvement projects on military lands.