Nada Beydoun & Fatima Matar: the Life-Changing Magic of Milkweed for Monarch Butterflies

Nada Beydoun is a registered herbalist with a BSc. in Microbiology and Immunology and Masters in Applied Human Nutrition. Her interests include SWANA region herbal medicines, and she has a community work background in refugee settlement and empowerment.

And Fatima Matar is a passionate gardener supporting the work of growing and bringing awareness to milkweed and Monarchs since 2019. Outside of driving around with a backseat filled with milkweed plants, you can find her doing photography as a freelance photographer.

And Nada and Fatima just so happen to be cousins! Several years ago, after learning about the dire situation of declining monarch populations and milkweed habitat loss, these two plant enthusiasts embarked on a journey to start stewarding milkweed for monarch butterflies.

Monarch butterflies rely on milkweed to lay their eggs and feed their larvae. By growing milkweed, we can support endangered monarch butterflies and other vital pollinators.

Together, in this episode of HerbMentor Radio, Nada and Fatima dive into the gifts of the wondrously aromatic milkweed, why they grow milkweeds for monarchs, and the ecological and cultural importance of monarch butterflies.

Nada and Fatima also share...

• Why it's important to grow native milkweed
• Why milkweed is so misunderstood (is it a noxious weed or no?!)
• How to grow milkweed and so much more!

You can learn more from Nada and Fatima — and check out more of Fatima's beautiful milkweed and monarch photography — on Instagram at @beybotany and @naturewithfatimam.

Please note: pleurisy root (Asclepias tuberosa), which is a species of milkweed, is contraindicated during pregnancy, and this plant does increase the risk of cardiac glycoside toxicity if taken with drugs or herbs that contain those constituents.

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