If you live in an area with a lot of flowers — no, not just the Broad Ripple Flower Alley ones — you probably already know that monarch butterfly migration season will soon be underway.

As one of few insects that migrate to warmer climates, monarchs flee their homes in the eastern United States + southern Canada each fall and make the journey to Central America and California to ride out the winter chill. While there, the elegant insects hibernate for six to eight months before laying eggs and migrating back north in March.

Editor Shea attended the Monarch Migration Open House in 2024 and picked up free milkweed seeds to take home. | Photo by INDYtoday team

When will monarch butterflies arrive?

Mid- to late-September is the peak time to see monarchs travel across Indy.

How can I help monarch butterflies?

Head to Cool Creek Nature Center tomorrow, Sept. 12 for a Monarch Migration Open House. This family-friendly event will have a guided walk with a naturalist, outdoor games, crafts, and free giveaways of milkweed plants — the monarch caterpillar's incredibly important sole food source.
Visit the Hilbert Conservatory at White River Gardens to get up close and personal with these fluttery friends. You can also explore the butterfly life cycle at an incubator, plus get tips on how to support them in the wild.
Save these conservation tips from Indiana Wildlife Federation, including how to register your yard as an official Monarch Waystation.