Lessons & Reflections from the National Butterfly Center

With a little age and experience, one learns that “right” and “wrong”, good and bad, true and false, are open to interpretation and influenced by point of view. (I know this may come as a shock to many of you. No, not really.)

Depending on your perspective, you may justify a variety of actions, such as trespassing, breaking and entering, and destruction of private property, to prevent some “wrong, bad” activity from taking place.

What “wrong, bad” activity could I possibly be referring to, here? Why it's nothing less than the propagation of a plant species some misinformed person believes to be non-native to the Rio Grande Valley.

At the NBC, we're harvesting, transplanting and growing Hierba de Zizotes (Asclepias oenotheroides), colloquially referred to as 'prairie milkweed'. This English common name for a native species has led someone to believe we are planting Sullivant's Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii), a non-native species, commonly called the same.

The irony is whoever is this passionate about fighting non-native and invasive plant species should know more about plants, shouldn't they? I mean, one would imagine an opinion this strong—one that might move a person to criminal acts—would be based in knowledge, as opposed to suspicion and conjecture. No? No.

Unfortunately, my experience with the Humane Society has prepared me to deal with people on the fringe, particularly, the misguided souls who make poor decisions and take actions into their own hands, for whatever reason.

To whomever is illegally entering the grounds, after business hours, and dead-heading all the Zizotes: We will catch you. And I will press charges.

Everyone else, always remember to do your homework; and plant more milkweed.

Thank you,
Marianna