New Haven, Conn. (July 12, 2019)— Enjoy an up-close-and-personal visit with monarch butterflies in various stages of their magical life cycle, and find out how you can help safeguard these regal creatures when horticulturist and owner of Natureworks Garden Center, Nancy DuBrule-Clemente, brings her captivating, hands-on presentation, “Raising Monarch Butterflies,” to the Pardee-Morris House on Sunday, August 18, 2019, at 2 p.m. Admission is free, donations are welcomed.

Did you know that only 2 out of every 100 monarch eggs survive in the wild to become a butterfly? The odds for the survival of this beautiful species are not in their favor, but if DuBrule-Clemente has her way they will survive and thrive. Her presentation includes an introduction and demonstrates how to hunt for the eggs, bring them inside, raise them and release them.

DuBrule-Clemente notes it is vital that we pay attention to the plight of the monarch butterfly, whose populations have been declining for years due to loss of habitat and the use of toxic poisons in gardens and lawns. She adds that monarch caterpillars are extremely sensitive to environmental toxins.

The presentation will also include information on what to plant to keep monarchs and other important pollinators happy and healthy, including milkweed, butterfly weed, and lots of nectar flowers. “The Connecticut shoreline is a prime migration corridor for the monarchs,” DuBrule-Clemente says, “And everyone who lives in that area should put out the welcome mat with lots and lots of nectar flowers for September and October when they are migrating.” She adds, “If everyone bands together as stewards of the monarch butterfly, we can create large areas that are safe and encourage them to thrive.”

The Museum thanks UI/Lighting Up the Arts; The Howard Gilman Foundation; East Shore Management Team; Knights of Columbus, Rodrigo Council #44; the DeCola Family and other Morris Cove neighbors for supporting the 2019 summer season.

About Nancy DuBrule-Clemente

Nancy DuBrule-Clemente is the owner of Natureworks Horticultural Services, an organic garden center, landscape design, consultation, installation and maintenance service in Northford, Connecticut. One of the main goals at Natureworks is to educate the community about gardening for the wildlife with which we share our properties. DuBrule-Clemente graduated from the Ratcliffe Hicks School of the University of Connecticut with a degree in floriculture. She is the author of “Succession of Bloom in the Perennial Garden” and coauthor (with Marny Smith) of “A Country Garden for your Backyard.” She is a former board member and past president of the Northeast Organic Farming Association Connecticut Chapter and is a current board member of the Connecticut Nurserymen’s Foundation.

About the Pardee-Morris House

Located at 325 Lighthouse Road, in New Haven, the Pardee-Morris House dates from about 1780, and is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. Built by Amos Morris around 1750, the house was burned by the British during their raid on New Haven in 1779, and rebuilt and expanded by the Morris family. In 1918, William S. Pardee, a descendant of the Morris family, willed the property to the New Haven Colony Historical Society, today the New Haven Museum. For a complete list of summer events at the Pardee-Morris House, visit:http://newhavenmuseum.org/visit/pardee-morris-house/ For New Haven Museum’s event calendar: http://newhavenmuseum.org/visit/events-calendar/ Sign up for e-blasts at info@newhavenmuseum.org.

About the New Haven Museum

The New Haven Museum, founded in 1862 as the New Haven Colony Historical Society, is located in downtown New Haven at 114 Whitney Avenue. The Museum collects, preserves and interprets the history and heritage of Greater New Haven and through its collections, exhibitions, programs and outreach brings more than 375 years of the Elm City’s history to life. For more information visit www.newhavenmuseum.org or facebook.com/NewHavenMuseum or call 203-562-4183.