Chloe Mensch is changing the world, one butterfly at a time.
Chloe and her husband, Jared, rescue Monarch butterflies and spread awareness about the dangers facing this incredible species. She has now released hundreds of butterflies into the community and hosts a group for Monarch advocacy and conservation. However, just two years ago, she had never even seen a Monarch butterfly up close.
Chloe is a Murray, Kentucky native with roots dating back over 100 years in the area. She is a mother of a beautiful five-year-old named Indiana and works as a professional photographer. She is also a singer/songwriter, performing at local venues solo and alongside her brother. Growing up, she did not appreciate Murray like she does today. Similar to many other young people, she longed to move away from her small town. As she grew, she learned just how special the community is. Chloe eventually moved into a house in the center of town with her husband. She has fond childhood memories of her grandmother’s garden and always wanted to have one of her own. She and her husband started putting together garden boxes at their house. They planted the zinnias she remembers from her grandmother’s garden and some vegetable plants to get them started. One day the couple was in the car when they passed a farmer’s stand in a Dollar General parking lot. They decided to stop, and there they found Butterfly Weed, the flower that would eventually transform their lives. The woman at the stand simply said, “it attracts butterflies,” which sounded wonderful. They brought it home and planted it in their garden.
Chloe loved her garden. The flowers were delightful, and she enjoyed capturing pictures of all the butterflies it attracted. She even got to see a Monarch butterfly up close for the first time. Monarch butterflies, also known as just Monarchs, are one of the most recognizable pollinators in the United States. With its distinct black, orange, and white pattern, the Monarch catches the attention of anyone in its path. The butterflies in Chloe’s garden enjoyed the Butterfly Weed she had planted, but she did not pay close attention to what was happening on the leaves. One day, Chloe’s husband, Jared, urgently called her over to the garden. She could not believe what she was seeing. There on the Butterfly Weed were twenty-four Monarch caterpillars. They would later discover that Butterfly Weed is a type of Milkweed, the primary food source for Monarch caterpillars. This is the plant all Monarchs lay their eggs on.
Chloe immediately grew attached to the tiny striped creatures. A storm was coming in that evening, and she felt compelled to protect them. With Jared’s help, she gathered all of the caterpillars into containers and brought them inside. That night she researched everything she could on Monarchs. She discovered how only two out of ten survive to be butterflies. She learned how the species is becoming endangered from habitat destruction. She learned that others around the country were rescuing Monarch eggs and caterpillars to save the species. The more she researched about the Monarchs, the more she realized that this is what she was meant to do.
She kept the army of caterpillars under her carport to protect them while allowing them to experience the weather changes and fresh air. She realized her Butterfly Weed was not going to be enough to feed all of the caterpillars. Chloe says, “that children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar does not exaggerate; caterpillars eat so much.” She began her search for Common Milkweed, the Monarch’s favorite dish. Unfortunately, not a single nursery in Murray had Common Milkweed.
