10 Most Beautiful Ecotourism Destinations To Visit In Canada (& What To Do There)
Dream Garden: Plans Turn To Reality In Student-led Butterfly Garden
GREENFIELD — Monarch butterflies will have a safe place to thrive in Hancock County thanks to the help of students and teachers at Eden Elementary School who are determined to keep the endangered species alive.
Eden's Wings of Wonder is a new garden located behind the Greenfield-Central's northernmost elementary building.
Carrie Bowman's third-grade class broke ground in celebration of the project in mid-May. The following week, parents and high school volunteers came by to till the land and help children plant milkweed and other flowers as a waystation for the migratory butterflies. The garden will be developed throughout the summer.
Students and teen volunteers planted the butterfly garden together last month. Submitted photo "I almost cried," said student Eve Martin, just after pushing a shovel into the ground. "They're almost extinct and they're beautiful creatures."
Third-graders wore bright orange T-shirts with a Wings of Wonder logo – half butterfly, half Eagle for the school's mascot. Dozens of other Eden students, parents, teachers and G-C administrators joined in the sunny morning to be inspired about what's to come, according to a press release from the G-C corporation.
Monarch butterflies have declined in population over the last decade due to urbanization, climate change and pesticides. Milkweed– the plant larvae feed on– is also being destroyed. Bowman's class learned about all these facts and more, and decided to take action.
Wings of Wonder is not only a science and environmental program, but also a lesson in business. Students broke into teams of marketing, development, design and fundraising to spread the word about the garden. Bowman was the CEO of the business and helped facilitate the agenda daily. Groups worked together to research scientific facts, persuade the principal to approve the garden, and gain momentum within the community.
"We're basically experts," Eve added.
The new monarch waystation will be registered with the Monarch Watch Organization, and will also become a butterfly sanctuary for all species of butterflies native to Indiana.
"Our mission is to raise awareness, educate, and inspire others to save monarch butterflies," the students wrote together in a mission statement. "Through our hard work and dedication, we will provide a safe environment for many species of butterflies and conserve their legacy."
Third-graders wore bright orange T-shirts with a Wings of Wonder logo – half butterfly, half Eagle for the school's mascot. Dozens of other Eden students, parents, teachers and G-C administrators joined in the sunny morning to be inspired about what's to come. Submitted photo While this is the first year for the garden, it was inspired by a single butterfly a decade ago.
Bowman was obtaining her teaching degree from Ball State University and worked with a girl who was struggling with reading comprehension. A butterfly landed on their tent in Minnetrista Gardens. The pair decided to explore what kind of butterfly it was, and through their passion for the environment and nonfiction text, they were able to make strides in reading and also learn about the life cycle of the monarchs.
These days, Bowman's passion continues, right down to her bright orange monarch earrings at the groundbreaking event.
Last fall, Bowman brought in live monarch caterpillars to her class that she had found while stopping along country roads and checking underneath milkweed. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and students started reading about caterpillars and how to save the species.
"I'm really happy since I'm trying to help monarchs. It's really important to help," said Izzy Jacobson. "Ms. Bowman is a great teacher. She's taught us a lot about monarchs; Ms. Bowman is the one who got us into it, and we all enjoy helping."
May 3 was declared Eden's Monarch Butterfly Day and the entire student body and staff wore orange, black and white. A Google slideshow about butterflies was presented to each class, and the community chipped in financially through classroom donations and online.
May 16 was the groundbreaking of the monarch waystation. It's located at Eden's Nature Lab, an outdoor space with a pavilion and benches that classes head to for science and technology, or picnics and school gatherings.
"I think Ms. Bowman's class learned so much in this project," said Principal Joe Bowman. "They learned how to use their reading and math skills in real time for a purpose. They wrote proposals to work on writing, they had discussions to work as a team growing their oral language skills, they worked on speaking and listening skills when presenting to classes, they had to use math critical thinking skills when working on budgets for fundraising and grant requests, and they learned how to solve conflicts when the team disagreed. I could go on and on about how much learning took place!"
The garden will give younger students something to look forward to and be a part of when they are third graders, he added.
Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin said the monarch waystation is one example of the many great science, technology, engineering and math programs that the G-C corporation provides.
"We want our students to see the broader impact of STEM activities in our school curriculum," Olin said. "This particular activity related to animal science is incredibly engaging for our students. I see it motivating them to learn on a deeper level – a level that exceeds what it would have been if it was limited to the classroom alone."
Ms. Bowman says the community is invited to help keep the garden growing and thriving. They will be working on it throughout the summer, and anyone can volunteer by emailing [email protected] or donate at donors.Adoptaclassroom.Org/s/designation/a1mUi000001IEDdIAO.
"In the future, my plan is for each student to enjoy the new outdoor classroom," she added. "My dream is for each of my third-grade classes to add to the garden. I have ideas for a five senses garden, alphabet garden, and maybe even a rainbow garden. Only time will tell."
Gardens BC Is In Full Bloom With The Expansion Of Website
Gardens BC continues to blossom. Since first launching their online resource gardensbc.
Gardens BC continues to blossom.
Since first launching their online resource gardensbc.Com last May, they have expanded their website to feature seven new garden-centred travel itineraries including Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Harrison River Valley, Vancouver's North Shore, Langley, Prince George, as well as Parksville and Qualicum Beach.
"We are very excited to have expanded our website and to now be offering a broad range of itineraries for our communities and visitors to enjoy," said Gardens BC president Geoff Ball. "These will help Gardens BC to promote visiting and experiencing British Columbia's diversity of gardens and garden experiences."
Antophiles in Cowichan Valley won't have to travel too far to stop and smell the flowers as there are plenty of beautiful spots to visit such as the Butchart Gardens and Victoria's Butterfly Gardens which are both in Brentwood Bay. There is always something eye catching around the Nanaimo Inner Harbour.
Thanks to the expansion of BC Gardens' website garden groupies can easily find treasures in bloom throughout the island and province. According to Dr. Richard Benfield who spoke at the 2023 International Garden Tourism Conference, garden visits account for one of the largest segments of the world's tourism industry, with 1.5 billion visitors to more than 5,000 gardens annually.
"They're an enjoyable way to explore the beauty and foliage of a local area, and appeal to families, couples, and gardening enthusiasts alike," said Benfield.
"The launch of our refreshed website has been an important step to help showcase the richness of garden tourism experiences throughout the province," said Ball. "People from across B.C. And beyond can now more easily plan out garden experiences into their trips."
Gardens BC self-guided itinerary makes filling up one's senses on foliage and flowers easier than ever before. Included are lists of garden experiences in each destination, as well as suggestions for dining, accommodations, and available amenities at each location, such as gardening education, on-site cafés and gift shops, picnic spots, pet-friendly areas, and wheelchair-accessible grounds. All itineraries have been developed in collaboration with tourism partners and supported by Destination BC. Garden visitors can also anticipate an exciting array of blossoms that will soon be in bloom including cherry blossoms, magnolias, rhododendrons, and tulips, to name just a few.
"We hope that users come away inspired to explore gardens that are new to them and to recognize the wealth of gardens across the Island and throughout B.C.," said Ball.
Papillion Woman Grows Butterfly Garden In Honor Of Her Mother: 'That Is What She Always Wanted'
Linda Chloupek's mother used to have just one flower in her yard — a big trumpet vine that was usually covered in butterflies.
Linda Chloupek created a butterfly garden at her Papillion home in honor of her mother, who loved flowers.
LIZ RYMAREV photos, THE WORLD-HERALDChloupek's father, Harley Anderson, who retired from the Air Force, preferred hedges and trees, things that were structured and clean.
When her mom, Carol Anderson, died of lung cancer seven years ago, Chloupek planted a butterfly garden in her honor.
"That is what she always wanted, so that is what we did," Chloupek said. "She just loved flowers. She really liked butterflies."
A Walk Through the Gardens tour will feature the butterfly garden and three other stops from 9 a.M. Until noon Saturday in Papillion. A nonperishable item or monetary donation to NeighborGood Community Pantry is the price of admission.
A metal butterfly hangs outside Linda Chloupek's front porch.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALDAddresses will be available at the butterfly garden at Veterans Park, 302 E. Halleck St. It is part of the tour.
Mike O'Neill designed and planted the 7-by-25-foot garden that Chloupek is sure her mother would have loved.
It's bursting with color — the various hues of lantana, red and pink roses and gerbera daisies. A beech tree is a magnet for butterflies.
Of course, those aren't the only flowers on the property. Chloupek said she and husband Rudy have been adding flowers since they moved in 29 years ago.
Orange coneflowers are planted in Linda Chloupek's garden in Papillion. She likes lots of color in her landscape.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALDThe backyard includes hydrangeas, Russian sage and asters. Begonias, geraniums, hibiscus and day lilies brighten other areas. Chloupek used hostas to fill a few shady areas in the mostly sunny property.
Magnolia, blackberry, pear, crabapple and river birch trees provide color in the spring and fall.
Chloupek said she doesn't have a plan. If it's pretty and she likes it, it joins the parade of other flowers. Mulch makes it easier to keep the garden beds weed free.
Sadly, none of the blooms can be brought inside. They make Chloupek sneeze.
"I'm allergic to flowers," she said. "I can at least see them in the window or if I walk around the yard."
Photos: Linda Chloupek honors her mother with a butterfly garden in PapillionLinda Chloupek sits for a portrait in her butterfly garden at her home in Papillion, on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALDOrange coneflowers are planted in Linda Chloupek's butterfly garden at her home in Papillion, on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALDOrange, red and yellow zinnias are planted in Linda Chloupek's butterfly garden at her home in Papillion, on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALDLinda Chloupek stands for a portrait in her butterfly garden at her home in Papillion, on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALDOrange, red and yellow zinnias are planted in Linda Chloupek's butterfly garden at her home in Papillion, on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALDA wooden butterfly house is in Linda Chloupek's butterfly garden at her home in Papillion, on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALDLinda Chloupek sits for a portrait in her butterfly garden at her home in Papillion, on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALDLinda Chloupek waves her hand at the bench dedicated to her mother in her butterfly garden at her home in Papillion, on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALDPink and red impatiens line the sidewalk to Linda Chloupek's front porch as a part of her butterfly garden at her home in Papillion, on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALDA metal butterfly hangs outside Linda Chloupek's front porch as a part of her butterfly garden at her home in Papillion, on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALDLinda Chloupek stands for a portrait in front of her front porch butterfly garden at her home in Papillion, on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
LIZ RYMAREV, THE WORLD-HERALD
Comments
Post a Comment