My overarching purpose of this project was to help
perpetuate the Monarch butterfly species. This was inspired by an article in
the Native Plant Society of Texas’ website written by Bill Hopkins, in it he
said “The Monarch butterfly population has declined to the lowest point in over
twenty years according to research scientists.” While many people believe that
the reason that we should try to preserve Monarch Butterflies are simply
because they serve as pollinators, I believe that while this is true, these
beings also have an intrinsic right to exist. This view is not new by any means;
probably the earliest spread of a similar idea was represented by The Land Ethic written by Aldo Leopold.
Anyways, I
felt that this should be accomplished by determining what plant species the
butterflies need, collecting those species, and planting them. Later on I
determined that I needed a vertical garden because of a lack of available space
on my property.
Finding the
species was easy, there was a large variety suggested by various sites on the
internet so all I had to do was find the species that best fit my needs (low
water/maintenance needed). I determined that Cosmos bipinnatus, Impatiens
balsamina, Zinnia elegans, and
Asclepias curassavica. After I accomplished that I ordered my
species online. While they were on their way I built my vertical garden, which
was actually accomplished with waste materials from my place of work. So I
accomplished that and filled it with soil from an experiment I did at school.
Recently I
planted my plants and now I am waiting on them to grow. Once they do I can
cover the face of the vertical garden with a fabric that is designed to keep
everything from falling when I hang it up while still allowing the plants to
sprout. With all of this done I have accomplished every goal except for
actually hanging the garden outside for the migrating butterflies. I will do
that before the Fall so that I can catch the Monarchs on their migration south.
