On Mother’s Day, there is an abundance of love and appreciation for butterflies! There is butterfly-themed merchandise, seen with Mother’s Day cards and jewelry. And in nature, butterflies are emerging this time of year too! However, butterfly populations are declining across the United States. According to new research by the U.S. Geological Survey, butterflies declined by 22% across the U.S. in just the last two decades. That’s a loss of one in every five butterflies.

Since the turn of the century, butterfly populations fell in almost every region of the country and in almost every species. Habitat loss, insecticides, rising temperatures and drying landscapes are the big reasons provided.

But on Mother’s Day, there’s a brighter side to the butterfly news. The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Chesterfield is promoting free classes to help people create their own butterfly gardens, helping butterfly conservation efforts in Missouri. www.missouribotanicalgarden.org