Ask Mr. Answer Person: "Why is the City of Decorah mowing next to the bike path near the Fifth Avenue Bridge?"

(Photo courtesy of Wikimedia)

(Darrel e-mails: "Why has the city been mowing the grassy areas along the trail near the soccer field and Pulpit Rock?  Every time I ride, walk or run there, I shake my head.  It not only looks awful but many many wildflowers, including milkweed, have been destroyed.  Milkweed is so important to butterflies, especially Monarch butterflies.  Bees and their hives also benefit from those flowers.  With Monarchs and bees decreasing in numbers so fast, shouldn't habitat like this be carefully preserved?"

Mr. Answer Person says: "Decorah's Parks & Recreation Department has made several efforts in recent years to preserve stands of milkweed.  For instance, signs now protect milkweed in front of the Decorah Swimming Pool and milkweed is also protected at the butterfly garden in the City Prairie.

Park-Rec Director Andy NImrod says his department is looking for additional places where milkweed could be protected.  But the area along the Upper Iowa River near the bike trail and the Fifth Avenue Bridge probably won't be one of those areas.  That's because the area has been mowed for years, so there's not a lot of milkweed there.  Butterflies like milkweed, as you note, but other gardens or protected areas will be the focus of attracting Monarchs and bees.