ROSCOE — If you plant it, they will come. The first day of
spring brought some disturbing news. According to a survey
sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund and Mexico’s National
Commission of Protected Areas, monarch butterflies have seen a
significant drop in their population this year. Every fall,
monarchs migrate south across North America to a small section
of Mexico for the winter. This year, nine hibernating colonies
occupied a space of 2.94 acres — a 59 percent decrease from the
previous year’s 7.14 acres. Why the drop? Scientists point to
drought conditions and extreme temperatures affecting the
population during warmer months, as well as heavy pesticide use
on habitat plants. Even though it’s difficult to control what
happens on farms and habitats across the continent, there is
something Big Country residents can do right here. And it’s not
as hard as you might think. Regina McVey, who owns McVey’s
Native Nursery in Roscoe, just recently moved her business from
its original location at her home in Mar