Milkweed plants given away to help monarch butterflies

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- There was a special effort happening on Sunday to save the monarch butterflies.

Free Milkweed plants were available for the taking at the Shorewood Farmers Market held at East Bluff Elementary School.

Milkweed is crucial to the survival of monarch butterflies and organizers say the monarch population has gone down dramatically in recent years.

"Milkweed plants are the only plants that monarchs will lay their eggs on and the only plants that monarch caterpillars can eat so it is really important to increase the milkweed population," said Heide Piehler.

Last year, a group in Shorewood raised and released about 1,400 monarchs into the community.