This winter, the monarch butterfly population in Mexico hit its lowest point in the past decade, partly due to widespread drought conditions across the U.S., including here in Minnesota. University of Minnesota Professor Emilie Snell-Rood expresses concern that if these dry conditions persist, the monarch population could continue to decline because of a lack of milkweed and other pollinator plants. Snell-Rood also mentions the timing issue, noting that when these plants grow compared to when the monarchs arrive can impact their survival. However, she reassures us that local reports show the plants and monarchs are currently arriving in sync. For more information on this topic go to the University of Minnesota’s Monarch Lab website.