NATCHEZ — Copiah-Lincoln Community College Natchez campus is doing its part to save the monarch butterfly, which is at risk of extinction.

With the area being in the direct migratory path of the monarch butterfly, Co-Lin Natchez Vice President Teresa Busby said the college applied for and received a $10,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant to plant a garden habitat for the butterflies.

“I think it is a great thing,” Busby said. “Number one, it is going to be beautiful. We also hope to reach out to local K to 12 students to bring in small groups once it becomes mature and butterflies are here.

“It’ll be an opportunity for young and old students alike to benefit and see the habitat.”

The plants have been planted, but plans also include installing a pair of benches and informational displays.

“We are working on the signage,” Busby said. “A group of (Phi Theta Kappa honor) students are helping with the signage. It will show the migratory path of the butterflies and there will also be signs to identify the plants within the garden.”

Master Gardener Karen O’Neal, who helped plant the garden this past week, said butterflies need habitats like this along their flight path with milkweed and nectar.

“Their path is about 2,000 miles,” O’Neal said. “They need places to stop, feed and reproduce. The monarch butterfly would not exist if not for places like this.”

In the garden, approximately 26 nectar plants were planned to be planted and four milkweed plants of various species. Milkweed is the primary host plant for monarch butterflies.

The plant combinations were chosen for being proven performers in Natchez’s climate. The combinations will maintain blooms throughout the spring, summer and fall.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports the monarch butterfly is in trouble due to habitat loss in its range.

For more information on the butterfly, visit www.fws.gov/savethemonarch/.

“The monarch butterfly is beautiful and lovely,” Busby said. “This will be a great opportunity for our campus and a great opportunity for the community, too.”