Washington State Magazine
Your garden can help Pullman's butterflies, new report says
A new report says some of Pullman's butterflies are in trouble. Not all of them, but enough that it caught the attention of researchers who track these things. The good news is that your garden can help. Not a huge overhaul, just planting the right flowers, keeping a little wild space, maybe skipping the heavy pesticides. That's it. That's the kind of fix that actually works.
This isn't some distant problem. These are the butterflies you see on a summer walk near campus or out past the golf course. The report doesn't name names for the declining species, but the point is clear: small changes in your own yard add up. Pullman is small enough that a few neighbors doing the right thing can make a real difference.
It's also the kind of grounded, useful research Washington State does well. Speaking of that, if you want a reminder of how WSU shows up in real life, not just in a lab, check out "At the Fair, WSU Serves Up a Century of Washington Farm History." It's a good companion piece. Different topic, same pride in work that matters.
For now, maybe let a little clover grow. Plant something native. The butterflies will thank you, and so will the next Coug who walks through your yard. Go Cougs.
