Monarch Waystation | Mayfield Congregational Church

Partnering for Pollinators 2024

In collaboration with U of I Extension, Mayfield Church is hosting a series of programs for a third year. Learn about native gardens and our pollinators by joining us for one or more of the programs listed below.

All programs take place at the Mayfield Monarch Waystation located at Mayfield Congregational Church, 28405 Church Rd, Sycamore, IL. Programs will take place rain or shine so be sure to dress for the weather.

Free of charge. No registration necessary.

Schedule:

June 29 Butterflies & Native Plant Gardening, 10 – 11 a.m.
Join Peggy Anesi, U of I Extension Natural Resource Educator, and Diana Swanson, Lead Gardener for the Mayfield Monarch Waystation, to learn how to identify butterflies and garden for pollinators.

July 20 Open Garden, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Explore the Monarch Waystation at your own pace during Mayfield Church’s Summer Stop. Waystation gardeners will be available to answer your questions as you enjoy the flowers, butterflies, bees, and birds. Plus, enjoy the Mayfield open house, featuring Attic Treasures, food, and more!

August 10 Garden Photography & Videography, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Learn how to take photos and videos of plants and garden wildlife from professional filmmaker Randy Caspersen. Bring your cell phones and cameras for hands-on picture-taking and video-making garden activities!

September 7 Foraging for Crafters & Preparing the Fall Garden, 10 – 11 a.m.
Join artist Sue Goudy to learn about foraging for natural materials to use in craft projects while learning about preparing your pollinator garden for the winter from gardener Diana Swanson.

Illinois Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists from Boone, DeKalb, and Ogle counties who attend can count the time as CE hours. Other counties should check with their coordinator.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact DeKalb U of I office at 815-758-8194. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs.

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Are you looking for information about what plants attract and provide food for both caterpillars and butterflies? Click here for the Mayfield Monarch Waystation Plant List, providing names, bloom times, and other information you’ll need.

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS AND PROGRESS UPDATES!

The Mayfield Monarch Waystation provides habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinating insects and a beautiful, peaceful spot for people to slow down and connect to nature and to the divine.

You are welcome to visit the garden to enjoy the beauty and to learn about the plants and shrubs, all of which are native to northern Illinois. The Waystation is open during daylight hours.

The Waystation began in 2014 as we learned about the dangerous decline in monarch butterfly populations. For initial support, Rev. Martha Brunell, pastor of Mayfield Church at the time, wrote a successful grant application to the Abbey of the Arts, Earth Monastery Project, an online monastic community. Abbey of the Arts “believe[s] that small, thoughtful, and carefully stewarded programs can make a big impact on the world.”

Since that first grant, many volunteers have contributed time, sweat equity, and funds to create and maintain the Waystation.

Peggy Doty, Energy and Environmental Stewardship Educator with the University of Illinois Extension and a member of Mayfield, explains the environmental value of the project for DeKalb County in particular. “Waystations for butterflies and other pollinators are critical oases in a highly agricultural landscape. A waystation makes perfect use of remnant land and buffer spaces.”

Gardener Diana Swanson comments that “In our little spot on this Earth we can do something real to support one of the miracles of the Creation — a butterfly that travels thousands of miles and depends on Midwest milkweed to survive.”