aboutus

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.