NABA Certifies New Monarch Habitat ~ Sharon Park HOA, Menlo Park
The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) is pleased to recognize that Gachina Landscape Management of Menlo Park, California has successfully created an official Certified Monarch Garden at Sharon Park HOA in Menlo Park. NABA celebrates the efforts of Gachina Landscape to create a garden space that creates a paradise for butterflies while encouraging habitat restoration by providing essential elements needed by monarchs – natural food sources, clean water, cover and places and food for larvae, butterflies young stage. This is Gachina’s second certified monarch garden – the first being Del Monte Shopping Center in Monterey.
The introduction of a butterflies’ habitat has several environmental benefits:
- Use of native plants – they are hardier and require less resources to survive.
- Chemical applications are avoided to protect larvae and adults.
- Birds and beneficial insects such as lady bugs and praying mantis are attracted to the same habitats.
- Most important, butterflies are the second, after bees, most important pollinator.
“By creating this special area at the property, Gachina Landscape Management provides the residents a unique way to enjoy their own backyard” says Sustainability Manager Cristina Prevarin. “The Butterfly Garden represents an intriguing natural setting through the colorful appeal of plants, flowers, insects, birds and décor. This aesthetic draws residents and their families to the outdoors while at the same time increases their awareness of the environment and of the role that each one of us plays in preserving natural habitats.”
The National Butterfly Center is dedicated to education, conservation and scientific research on wild butterflies. Formed in 1993, the North American Butterfly Association (NABA), a not-for-profit membership organization, is the major North American organization promoting conservation of butterflies and their habitat. NABA focuses its efforts on educating the public about the importance of butterflies and their habitats and on conserving butterflies, both to the benefit of humans and our environment.
