Marianna's Blog
Summer 1, 2, 3, 4
Lessons & Reflections from the National Butterfly Center
Ah, what a wonderful break we're having from the heat! With temperatures in the 40's, the Rio Grande Valley is actually experiencing winter this year. It's good for our plants, but the butterflies (and visitors) have been blown away by the cold, blustery winds. The bright spot: those same winds bring our Winter Texans home to roost, for the season.
Bill, one of our Winter Texan volunteers, refers to the seasons in South Texas as Summer 1, Summer 2, Summer 3, and Summer 4. It's funny, but most of all it's true—and similar to the local version: Hot, Hotter, Heaven Help Us!, and Hot.
Life is Messy (and Magnificent!)
Lessons & Reflections from the National Butterfly Center
Today I met some new visitors to the National Butterfly Center. They marveled at the landscape and the sheer number of colorful butterflies flitting between the flowering plants, trees and shrubs. They asked, “What is this?” and “What is that?” They deduced, on their own, if you plant it they will come!
They inquired about our mission and the importance of preserves, like ours; at which point we talked about development, drought and disappearing habitat, the special role of native plants and the need for broad, community education.
As often happens, someone asked, “If you could only have one tree, what would it be?”
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