Spring 2025 Milkweed For Restoration Projects
This spring (2025), seven groups were awarded as candidates for KNPS’ ‘Milkweed for Restoration’ campaign launch. The recipient groups included, the Kaslo Outdoor Recreation and Trail Society, Valhalla Foundation for Ecology, BC Parks, West Kootenay Climate Corps, among others.
This campaign was launched to provide native milkweed and late-season nectar plants to community-led restoration projects across the West Kootenay region.
Over 400 West Kootenay ecotype native plants were sent out to restore pollinator habitat in both rural and urban spaces, from Nelson and Kaslo to Nakusp and Robson. The recipient groups, many of which are volunteer-led, are now actively planting and stewarding these pollinator-friendly species in key sites, helping to restore essential breeding and feeding habitat for Monarch butterflies and a wide range of native pollinators.
This spring’s campaign represents a vital piece of our larger Milkweed and Monarchs initiative, an ambitious effort to restore and enhance showy milkweed populations throughout the Kootenays. With your help, we’ve taken tangible steps toward reconnecting fragmented habitat and supporting the long-term survival of Monarchs in our region.
Spring 2025 Awardees
In May, 2025, the Kaslo Outdoor Recreation and Trails Society (KORTS) was the first group to take advantage of free Milkweeds for Restoration Projects from KNPS. Volunteers planted more than 100 native plants, including showy milkweed (especially for Monarch butterflies, seen in 2024 at Meadow Creek), Western Canada goldenrod, aster species, pearly everlasting, roundleaf alumroot, Douglas Maple, sedge, and yarrow, among others. Plants came from KNPS and donations by volunteers of KORTS.
The planting was done after the volunteer crew removed an old pumphouse on the Kaslo River North Trail. Their work kicked off the campaign with tremendous energy and enthusiasm!
At Snk’mip Marsh near Nakusp, the Valhalla Foundation for Ecology (VFE) planted over 180 milkweed and nectar plants for their ongoing restoration of wetlands and upland pollinator habitat. Snk’mip Marsh has gained traction with the public over the last few years as a significant eco-cultural restoration project in the Columbia Basin. The addition of our native plants are crucial to support the long-term biodiversity goals of this protected ecological reserve. Amber Peters and Lorna Viser of VFE were delighted to receive the plants, and have made their own financial contributions to the Milkweed and Monarchs initiative.
BC Parks’ Amanda Weber-Roy and her team at Summit Lake planted native milkweed and nectar plants as part of a broader habitat enhancement effort for pollinators and amphibians. This project is building on ongoing conservation work in the area, where community members are actively engaged in protecting sensitive species.
KNPS has a long-standing relationship with BC Parks, including the co-creation of Monarch Waystation and Butterfly Habitat Learning Gardens at Beaver Creek and Syringa Parks, respectively. The addition of more native pollinator plants at Summit Lake, is a hopeful start to yet another collaborative community garden project with BC Parks and KNPS!
In May 2025, the West Kootenay Youth Climate Corps (YCC), led by Brianna Thompson, joined the Nelson Monarch Waystation (breeding habitat) project. This project commenced in Fall 2024 in collaboration with the City of Nelson’ s Wildfire Resilience Interphase project, and has since evolved into a prominent site for community conservation engagement.
The Youth crew added another 60 plants to the rapidly growing garden, while also learning about native species, pollinator ecology, and how to take climate action through hands-on restoration. The partnership continues to flourish as we plan more volunteer days throughout the summer.
Photos of KNPS team and YCC planting at the Nelson Monarch Waystation. Photo by Valerie Huff.
Photo of Brianna Thompson accepting the Native Plant Award with Danielle Crumback. Photo by Valerie Huff.
“The crew gained knowledge on native plants, pollinator habitat and monarch butterflies and were inspired by how easy it was for them to make a difference for this at-risk species.”
— Brianna Thompson, West Kootenay Youth Climate Corps
“I love seeing a not-for-profit and a municipality work together on pollinator habitat. There are so many opportunities for municipalities to be leaders in making our environments more pollinator-friendly.”
— Community participant
Doll Divine: Nelson
Ola Rogula of Doll Divine incorporated the plants into a residential greenspace in Nelson, creating a naturescaped area that now supports a variety of insects and pollinators.
This is a neighborhood restoration project in Nelson supported by members of the Uphill community, with family and local connections contributing to planting, maintenance, and materials. With the help of plants from KNPS a conventional lawn is now being transformed into a drought-tolerant native plant garden.
“This donation of plants has been an incredible gift to our naturescaping project. It warms my heart to see so many people actively taking steps to enrich the landscape and this community!”
— Ola Rogula
Rosemont Strata: Nelson
Resident Dey Wilson at Rosemont Strata transformed an unused strip of land between the condo strata and parking lot into a beautiful public-facing garden. Dey has purchased native plants from us in the past, and is a keen community conservationist!
“We share this garden with everyone who walks by. Thank you for the gift of plants.”
— Dey Wilson
Homestead Project: Robson
Hayley Morgan in Robson used the plants to enhance a residential property restoration project, blending pollinator support with native landscaping techniques. Her work helps anchor native species in areas where ornamental planting previously dominated.
Dey Wilson receiving the Milkweed and Monarchs Native Plant Award with Valerie Huff.
Hayley Morgan receiving the Milkweed and Monarchs Native Plant Award with Valerie Huff.
Ola Rogula receiving the Milkweed and Monarchs Native Plant Award with Valerie Huff.
BC Parks staff receiving the Milkweed and Monarchs Native Plant Award with Valerie Huff.
Amber Peters receiving the Milkweed and Monarchs Native Plant Award with Valerie Huff.