From Milkweed to Monarchs  

with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

Did you know that monarch butterflies migrate 4,800km each year from Canada to Mexico? Join us for this hands-on workshop to learn how milkweed plants help support this journey and have a chance to plant your own! Learn about our experimental gardens at Bentway Staging Grounds and the opportunities of urban ecology.  

Join us for an introduction to the features, functions, and possibilities of Bentway Staging Grounds through this eco workshop presented with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority!  

Did you know monarch butterflies migrate 4,800 km to Mexico every fall? Join us to see live monarchs in action! Join this workshop to learn about: 

• The special relationship between monarchs and milkweed 
• The fascinating transformation of a monarch from egg to a butterfly 
• The annual migration of monarch butterflies from Canada to Mexico 
• How native plants, like those that grow in the Staging Grounds, benefit monarch butterflies and so many others! 

At the end of the program, all participants will have the opportunity to plant milkweed seeds in paper pots to contribute to Monarch habitat in their own outdoor space. Materials provided include: newspaper, soil, and native milkweed seeds.  

What to Expect: 

• All skills levels are welcome – no planting experience necessary. 
• This event is suitable for ages 6 and up. 
• Youth under age 16 must be accompanied by a caregiver. 
• All materials provided. 
• This event is held at Bentway Staging Grounds, an outdoor space under the Gardiner Expressway. Come prepared to spend an afternoon outside, rain or shine! A hat, sunscreen, and full water bottle are recommended, and rain gear is suggested in case of inclement weather. 
• The program will include a short walk through Canoe Landing Park. The path is paved but does include a small incline. Closed toed shoes are recommended.
• During this event, accessible public washrooms are available nearby at The Bentway Studio (55 Fort York Blvd), about a 5 minute walk away. 
• Bentway Staging Grounds is accessible to mobility devices; visitors enter onto a series of walkways approx. 7ft wide.

Learn more about Bentway Staging Grounds planters from Horticultural Consultant Isaac Crosby (Brother Nature).