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Club Officers and Chair People


I always had a love for nature, so in the winter of 2001 I decided I wanted to see lots of butterflies like I used to as a child. What would I do? I’d create a butterfly garden. That winter I did a lot of research on the internet to find out what kind of plants I would need. In the spring of 2002, I met Lois Hansen. She gave me a list of necessary plants, some native plants from her garden, and my very first two Monarch eggs. Along with the eggs, Lois brought over several books to read that were about butterflies.

That was it. I was hooked. From then on I began reading every book I could find about butterflies. Each year, I plant a bigger variety of host and nectar plants. And every year I bring in most of the eggs I find, so that I can raise a variety of butterflies. From 2002 through 2012, I’ve raised over 4000 butterflies.

I am the author of "Learn About Butterflies in the Garden", owner of Brenda's Butterfly Habitat, a Co-founder and past president of Southeast Michigan Butterfly Association (SEMBA), a member of North American Butterfly Association (NABA), Wild Ones, and Wildflower Association of Michigan (WAM). I’m an Advanced Master Gardener and was awarded “ Master Gardener of the Year 2007” for Wayne County by Michigan State University Extension. The Master Gardener Association of Wayne County awarded me the MGAWC 2008 Dean Krauskopf, Ph.D. Educational Outreach Award My yard is certified by SEMBA as a Native Butterfly Garden, Monarch Watch as a Monarch Waystation and the National Wildlife Federation as a Wildlife Habitat

A few of the local newspapers that have written articles about my butterfly garden and Brenda's Butterfly Habitat are: The Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Observer & Eccentric Newspapers and the Journal Newspapers.

Senator Laura Toy, Representative Richard LeBlanc, and Mayor Sandra Cicirelli sent letters of congratulations, after reading the articles in the newspapers.

 A few of the places that I have given lectures at are: Wildflower Association of Michigan, Master Gardener meetings, nurseries, garden clubs, Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes, DTE Energy Company, Canton City Leisure Services, Wild Birds Unlimited, Audubon Societies, and schools on butterfly gardening. I also had a program “How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden” on Westland Public TV - WLND, which was filmed while I was giving a talk at the Westland Public Library.

My butterfly house is located at 6414 Merriman Road, Westland MI 48185, between Ford Road and Warren Road, at Barson's Greenhouse. It has butterflies, which are native to Michigan, and their host plants. This allows people to see the life cycle of the butterflies that they can have in their yards. I try to share my knowledge about butterfly plants and rearing butterflies with as many people as I can. We need to give back to the earth. We can do this by planting the native plants that were intended to be here. Native plants have higher nectar content than most non-natives and they produce a healthy ecosystem by attracting a wider variety of birds and insects, which enhance the biodiversity.

Brenda Dziedzic
Past President
Carolyn Sohoza
Vice-President,
Treasurer
I was first introduced to butterfly rearing in my Biology for Educators class at Eastern Michigan University in 2001. My instructor, Tom Hodgson, has an incredible love of nature and brought in two Monarch caterpillars for the class to observe during our metamorphosis discussion. (Butterflies undergo a complete metamorphosis.) After the class was over, he gave me the caterpillars to take home to my sons so they could watch the rest of the metamorphosis cycle.

After our first butterflies emerged, we began looking for Monarch eggs everywhere we could find a patch of wild Milkweed. Because this doesn’t always bring successful results, we decided to plant Milkweed in our yard. (Plant it and they will come!) As we did research on other host and nectar plants, our little patch of Milkweed grew and eventually evolved into a butterfly garden that spanned the entire perimeter of our yard.

In 2007, we moved to a new home, with a much larger pallet to play with. Our new garden now holds a three tier pond, a butterfly nursery island, a hummingbird island, a shade garden, and many, many, many more host and nectar plants. The Sohoza oasis (as we call it) is also certified by Monarch Watch as a Monarch Waystation and as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

On the credentials side; I am a member of NABA (North American Butterfly Association) and I am a Master Gardener. In addition, I am a certified Science teacher with a love of biology and nature in general―bugs, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and plants. The idea of sharing knowledge about butterflies and establishing and sustaining their habitats is very important to me. Especially with kids!

Brenda Dziedzic and I worked for the same company, in the same building, and didn’t realize that we were starting butterfly gardens at the same time. Once we found out…the idea for SEMBA emerged. Brenda has a wealth of knowledge and we were very excited about sharing our passion for butterflies with others.
Butterfly Brenda (Brenda Dziedzic) introduced me to butterfly 'rearing' in the summer of 2003. It began as a project that my kids and I could experience together.  Since then, we have reared between 50-125 Monarch each summer.

Have shared and continue to share the rearing experience for my daughter's classes, neighborhood kids and others that show interest. Began butterfly garden in 2004 and expanded garden in 2006.
Teri Bongiovanni - Upholzer
Secretary
My love of butterflies started when I was a child. I was fascinated by their beauty and flight. I have always felt a closeness to Mother Earth. I am an eternal student of life, I love to learn new things, and share my knowledge. Knowledge is power!

I was reading The Mellus Newspaper and saw a notice that a Butterfly group was forming and decided to check it out. I missed the first meeting, but have been a member since the second meeting, and have enjoyed every one. I have gained so much knowledge and met many interesting people. I have enjoyed rearing and raising butterflies, especially with my grandchildren and the kids in our neighborhood. Children are our future.

As far as what I bring to the table, I'm a Jill of all trades! I have taught Cake Decorating and Craft classes. I'm a mother of one and grandmother of 3, a biker, Girl Scout leader, volunteer, avid crafter. I have worked for a concert promoter, pumped gas, been a roadie, nanny, florist, bartender, caterer, party planner, cook, waitress, security guard, a Rennie, worked in sales and more. I look forward to the field trips, meetings, and the many activities we have this coming year.
Becky Paulson
Program Coordinator


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Next Meeting:
February 20th, 2013
"Butterflies of Ives Road Fen"
All meetings begin at 7:00 pm. and take place at:

 Nankin Mills
33175 Ann Arbor Trail
Westland, Michigan

(unless otherwise noted.)








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Timothy Dumas
Publications Director


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Carol Clements
Nankin Mills Naturalist


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          I have been interested in gardening and attracting butterflies and birds to my own garden for the last 30 years.
          Most recently, since joining the SEMBA club almost 6 years ago, I have planted many more native plants in my yard.
          I have also been raising and releasing many butterflies into my yard, each year that operation gets bigger as well, having released well into the hundreds of butterflies so far. My yard is a SEMBA certified garden, a Monarch Waystation, and is also certified as a National Wildlife habitat.. I enjoy working out in the garden, and seeing things flourish.
          By helping run the Habitat Committee, I can further help the butterflies, and also get my fill or working in the garden!!
Rachelle Melczek
Habitat Committee Co-Chair
           My journey began with my neighbor asking if I would be interested in going to a meeting about butterflies. That was in 2007 and I have been hooked ever since.
          I have always enjoyed gardening but enjoy it even more now. Have just about run out of run out of room in my yard so I have expanded to friends and neighbors.
          I will continue to share all the wonderful information I have learned with our group and hope to see you in the garden.
Kathy Bey
Habitat Committee Co-Chair
Kathy Bey