Visiting the Monarch Butterflies in Mexico
Planting a Seed
In late summer of 2022, I had just attended a webinar for Xerces Society addressing conservation for pollinators with an emphasis on Monarch Butterflies. I learned all about the importance of planting Milkweed for Monarchs since that is the only plant that caterpillars can survive off. However, it is also the plant that threatens them since it is highly toxic to consume. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became with wanting to see them at a point in their migration. They travel every year all the way from Canade through the U.S. and make their way down to Mexico where they spend warmer winters. Mexico has always been home to me since that is where I was born and spent almost eight years of my childhood. I’ve been feeling an urge to go back and visit my hometown of Cuernavaca, Morelos which just so happens to be two states away bordering Mexico City. This idea was planted in me to someday visit the protected biosphere.
I often have a way of making things happen wether it’s realistic or not. Dreaming, day dreaming, wishing, and following my curiosities often leads these makebelieve ideas towards becoming realities. That is how Dancing Bee Blends got started and that is how I ended up seeing the enchanted forest filled with millions of butterflies.
A Sign to Go
Shortly after the webinar, it had to be about a few days after, I received a visit from a single Monarch butterfly in my garden. I had posted a video about the magical encounter to my instagram and have also included it in my video down below. The butterfly made a pitstop in my garden to refuel off of my Tithonia Sunflowers, also known as Mexican Sunflowers, before making its way down to Michoacán. I took it as a sign to go. That weekend, my mom and I booked our flights for December and set way not only to visit my hometown, but to visit the Monarchs.
Eco Tourism
What a dream it was getting to follow the butterfly migration down south to Michoacán. It felt like a fairy forest! It was quiet and serene once we got to the top. The sounds of wings fluttering and birds chirping was unlike any other feeling of stillness. This trip has set the bar high for me in terms of “reasons to travel.” Apart from culture, food, language, and history, my newest fascination is getting to learn about a country through their sustainability efforts by visiting gardens, farms, vineyards, public parks, national parks, forests and anything to do with nature and eco-conscious living. What better way to see the world then how mama nature intended.
