No to Neonicotinoids

Journey North participant Karen VanHees wrote with concern about plants being sold to butterfly gardeners that contain neonicotenoids, a class of systemic pesticides that are harmful to monarchs and other pollinators. The flowers are toxic, and so is the plant material that's eaten by monarch larvae and other herbivores. Watch out for neonicotenoids — and other pesticides — in any garden products that you purchase. If you're not sure, don't buy it. Read more:

Xerces Society: Neonicotinoids in Your Garden
Monarch Joint Venture: Insecticide Use and Monarchs
Xerces Society: Neonicotinoids and Bees

warning tag to butterfly gardeners that plants treated with neonicotenoids