Illinois nature lovers are getting the last glimpses of the regal monarch butterfly as it sips nectar from the native vegetation like the goldenrod and aster. Enjoy because our annual visitors are getting ready to leave for a 2,500 journey back to the forests of Mexico.
The monarch that come to the U.S. and goes to California tends to ‘overwinter’ there and stay longer while the monarchs that come to Illinois leave when autumn begins and has been doing so for centuries. When they go to Mexico it will be to the Mexican oyamel forests located in the mountainous central region of the country and stay for five months.
