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? Id 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
seedlings 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 all the eggs I can find to raise a variety of butterflies. In 2006 I raised over 475
butterflies.
The Detroit Free Press and the Journal Newspaper wrote articles about my butterfly
garden. Mayor Sandra Cicirelli and Senator Laura Toy sent letters of congratulations
after reading the articles in the newspapers.
Im a member of NABA (North American Butterfly Association), WAM (Wildflower
Association of Michigan), Michigan Entomological Society, and Im an Advanced Master
Gardener. My yard is certified by Monarch Watch as a Monarch Waystation and as a
Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
I have given lectures at Master Gardener meetings, nurseries, garden clubs, and schools
on butterfly gardening. 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 non-natives and they produce a healthy ecosystem by attracting a
wider variety of birds and insects, which enhance the biodiversity.
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. (Butterflys 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 doesnt 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.
We certified our garden as a Monarch Waystation and as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat.
On the credentials side, I am a certified Science teacher with a love of biology; I love
nature in general including bugs, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and plants. The idea of
sharing knowledge about butterfly species and growing the number of habitats is very
important to me. Especially with kids!
Brenda and I worked for the same company, in the same building, and didnt realize that
we were starting gardens at the same time. Shes a great resource for both plants and
knowledge and were very excited about sharing our passion for butterflies with others.
Butterfly Brenda (Brenda Dziezdic) 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.
Carolyn started me on this butterfly journey in 2005. I started by taking care of her
monarchs while she was on vacation and I just thought it was the coolest thing! So
eventually I started practically living in there back yard trying to see what would flutter
through. Then Carolyn started buying me plants for my own garden and I have been
rearing them ever since! My Garden is small still but growing!
Giving back to nature is so important to me because I want my future kids to be able to
experience the beauty and intrigue I do every time I watch any part of the
metamorphosis of the butterfly.
Mom and Dad always had something growing.
Dad had a garden every year and they both had traditional flower
gardens of roses, peonies, annuals and perennials.
There were also a number of plants in the house throughout the
year. So I guess my green
thumb is genetic.Ive been growing things since I was a kid.
Flowers, vegetables, trees and whatever struck my fancy.
I went through a lot of trial and error to find out what would
grow for me and what would look nice in the yard.
During this time, I noticed lots of critters that seemed to love
my plants as much as I did.
The most fascinating were the worms that would appear and eat and eat
and eat. Then they would change into pods and go to sleep for a period
of time. Then they would
come out from the pod and suddenly that ugly worm was a beautiful
butterfly. As a kid I was
intrigued.
As an adult, I began to learn what this metamorphosis
was all about. I read books,
I took classes and I tried to find out more information about the life
cycles of butterflies and moths.
This tied in nicely to my hobby of growing plants.
The more I learned the more that I realized that I
didnt know much about the plants, animals and insects that shared my
habitat. I had to learn
more.
I took classes and seminars.
I became a certified Master Gardener.
I met people with far more experience and knowledge than I had.
I gravitated towards experts like Brenda so I could learn more.
I found many people were willing to share their experience and
knowledge with me. The more
I learned, the more I realized that I needed to know more.
So I joined up with SEMBA.
I can not be more pleased to be associated with such a fine
group. They have helped me
take my innate love of nature to a higher level.
One of increased knowledge and appreciation of butterflies, the
plants they use and loss of their native habitats.
In the past few years, I have had my yard listed as a
Wildlife Habitat, a Monarch Way Station and a SEMBA native garden.
Im proud to say that Ive been seeing more butterflies in my
yard thanks to what I have learned from SEMBA members.
I am especially proud that I successfully raised a Tiger
Swallowtail caterpillar and a few Monarchs this past season.
Not too bad for a big, bad,
burly, bald biker! Eh?
