gillian flaccus has our story. "come on, come on out! here, grab a hold of my finger." the monarch -a beloved butterfly species whose population has been in decline. now getting a boost for the most unlikely of reasons -the california drought. numbers of the majestic orange-and-black butterflies are in free fall as development chews up fields of milkweed -the only plant where the female monarch will lay her eggs. but in california, drought-tolerant milkweed species are gaining popularity as homeowners rip up lawns and plant desert gardens instead. outside san diego, tom merriman has seen first-hand how interest in saving water and saving monarchs has surged. "more milkweed, more milkweed, more milkweed." four years ago, merriman didn't even offer milkweed for sale at his nursery. this season, he sold more than 14,000 milkweeds and a very adaptable plant, it's co-evolved with the monarch. it's a survivor plant." anya shortridge bought a few milkweeds last year after seeing how they attracted monarchs. upsound (english): "ooh! he says, 'yummy! fresh milkweed!'" now, she s