Final Update

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.