My grandmother said she WAS a butterfly. She wrote, spoke and thought in metaphor.
Butterflies could use our help. Numerous factors are affecting populations of butterflies and bees. Detailed steps are listed at The Xerces Society’s page “Bring Back the Pollinators Campaign that can be taken to foster health for pollinators and environment alike.
Purchasing and caring for monarch larvae is a fantastic way to witness the metamorphosis in the development of butterflies. People of all ages can experience wonder, while learning and supporting butterfly populations. If you would like to order and purchase your own monarch larvae and personal nursery to be shipped to your home, you can do so at butterflybushes.com. Deliveries are not expected to occur until June 2017.
Many different partners are coming together to share information and resources to support butterflies, bees and more. Please contact me if you would like to participate. More educational and event information will be released as the season progresses.
Three sites are listed below, each offering projects, actions and advice to promote the health of pollinators.
The Xerces Society’s page devoted specifically to our region is http://www.xerces.org/pollinators-great-lakes-region/.
Even Cheerios is hoping to create positive change for bees. The cereal company shares information regarding challenges bees are facing and what is being done to help here: http://www.cheerios.com/weneedthebees.aspx
A quick look at the Cayuga Nature Center’s page devoted to butterflies, offered a name of the delightful creature that fluttered beside me yesterday, a “Baltimore Checkerspot.”
Now, time to venture into the fields and see the work these creatures are performing.
Adventures in the Finger Lakes 