A couple of butterfly enthusiasts from Steinbach released a bunch of Monarchs on Monday night.

Doug and Marcie Rempel host this event annually, with this year’s taking place at KR Barkman Park.

“I have a lot of milkweed planted in my garden and the butterflies have really found it a popular spot to hang out,” says Marcie, “so at the beginning of June, when I collected eggs, I found 50 of them in my own garden.”

According to Marcie, the ease in which they have been finding Monarchs to raise seems to contradict reports out of their migratory destination of Mexico. “I’ve been finding them everywhere,” she says, “and there is a field nearby Steinbach where I get most of my milkweed to feed them.”

Milkweed is the Monarch butterfly's food source, and Marcie says the Swamp variety is best, being a “very well-behaved perennial”.

The couple embraces their eccentricity in raising and releasing high quantities of Monarch butterflies every summer.

“My wife is definitely, should we say, a little crazy about Monarchs,” says Doug, “and that’s alright. I’m happy to help her and it’s a beautiful thing to watch as you release them out into nature. It’s fun.”

So far this year the Rempels have released close to 75 butterflies, but Marcie says she may still have some work to do.

“I think last year we released about 175,” she says, “so I have a ways to go.”