SEPTEMBER 2018 SEEDWORLD.COM / 41 TIP revolve more around creating specific pollinator plots. Baum says those differences are in part because of the many different spe- cies of milkweed that grow along the Monarch Highway. “In the southern regions, our native milkweed species tend to be smaller and grow as individual plants, whereas common milkweed, more commonly found in the northern regions, can be taller than a person and spreads below ground to form relatively dense stands, so there are different challenges when incorporating these species into habitats,” Baum says. Another consideration is that Monarchs need milk- weed to be evenly distributed to reach their full reproduc- tive potential. It can take up to five generations of Monarchs to complete the journey from Canada to Mexico, and back again. And if there is insufficient milkweed at any point in the journey, the migration could potentially fail. “It’s important to consider that distri- bution when we’re thinking about man- aging existing habitat or planting new habitat plots, no matter where you are along the route,” Baum adds. Milkweed and other native wildflow- ers are essential for native bees and other pollinators as well, even honeybees, so all of these efforts fit together to form an impressive drive toward better pollinator stewardship. “One of the most exciting parts of the trip was seeing the creativity and passion that goes into these various projects,” Bryan says. “There are so many things we don’t think about on a daily basis but when you hear a success story like one of these, it helps us realize that no matter where you are or what you’re doing, eve- ryone can create a pollinator habitat.” A Continuing Journey In the end, the team covered more than 1,700 miles in their van, a little over half of the Monarch’s journey between Canada to Mexico. But Bryan said she hopes the stories they collected will continue to travel the world through social media as they spread awareness and appreciation for pollinator habitat projects. Syngenta was able to share 61 social media posts with details from the road trip and received more than 8,000 engagements and nearly 6,700 video views just a month after returning home. Those numbers continue to rise. The stories were also shared internally with Syngenta employees, which helped bring home the company’s commitment to biodiversity. “Sharing the photos and videos from our trip in real time with all of our employ- ees lets them feel as though they were there with us, and it helps them see first- hand what is going on so they are a part of it,” Bryan says. The pollinator health projects are also an ongoing journey, and one that’s dif- ficult to measure. “From the Monarch perspective, we are seeing a positive response,” Baum says. “We’re tracking milkweed density and seeing good Monarch usage, but it’s hard to compare year to year. However, it’s pretty clear that managing habitats has a positive effect.” Bryan is also excited about the con- nections this trip created. “We were able to build some tre- mendous relationships with the amazing experts we met,” she adds. “And we hope to be able to return to those connec- tions as we work on future projects in the coming years. It gives us a great oppor- tunity for learning from each other and perhaps collaborating.” And unlike the Monarchs, which make their journey every year, Bryan doesn’t necessarily think they’ll plan a road trip next year for National Pollinator Week. “It was a very special trip, really invalu- able,” she notes. “Pollinators are essential to agriculture, so we’re always looking for a fresh idea to celebrate this important week every year.” SW It’simperativethatasanindustrywetakeaproactiveapproachinprotecting pollinators.operationpollinator.com Above: A Monarch butterfly perched on milkweed from Monarch Watch in Lawrence, Kan. Left: Native plants on the Oklahoma roadside mowing plots in Stillwater, Okla.