Everyone knows how important honeybees are—but what about the butterflies?

An essential part of the ecosystem, these delicate, fluttering jewels also pollinate flowering plants— and every autumn a small but determined population of Western Monarchs migrates from Washington and Oregon to Pacific Grove, California: a.k.a. “Butterfly Town, U.S.A.”

You can view these natural wonders October through February at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary, free and open from sunrise to sunset.

But don’t miss the annual Butterfly Parade and Bazaar on Saturday, October 1 (with local schoolchildren dressed in wings) or the Historic Home Tour of classic Victorians on Sunday, October 2.

Looking for a Place to Land?

To commemorate this inspiring natural migration, Monterey Bay Property Management is offering discounted $999 weekly rates at select Pacific Grove rentals between Oct. 1, 2011 and Feb. 29, 2012 (subject to availability, holiday dates excluded, tax and cleaning fees additional).

For more info, contact the little butterfly on the left – reservationist Ashley Magallanes in her first Butterfly Parade, circa 1993.

Ashley@MontereyRentals.com or call (831) 655-7840.