The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) is now the proud owner of the property formerly known as Chihuahua Woods, which we have renamed Pixie Preserve. Although it is relatively close to the National Butterfly Center, NABA's flagship project just 6 miles east in Mission, Texas, the Pixie Preserve seems a world apart. There is an old-growth ebony forest that is the last known nesting site of Hook-billed Kites in the United States.  There is a barretal habitat that used to boast a large population of Longflower Tuberose, host plant for endangered Manfreda Giant-Skippers.  There are a multitude of interesting native plants such as Jerusalem Thorn (palo verde), Saffron Plum (coma), Lotebush, Coyotillo, Brushland Shrubverbena (brushland lantana) and Crown of Thorns growing here that have never been very successful at the center, and last — but not least — more than three times the acreage to plant with a diversity of native host and nectar plants to support wild, free-flying butterflies.

 

We cannot wait to transform this place, which was closed and neglected, into a vibrant place for butterflies and the people of South Texas! Although certain “sensitive areas” of the property are off-limits for major alteration, the rest of the landscape is ripe for restoration.  This is especially important as Hidalgo County’s population approaches one million people.  To put that in perspective, if Hidalgo County was a state, it would be the 45th or 46th largest state in the union, but we suffer from a lack of available parks and greenspace for public enjoyment. For this reason, we are seeking support for this project to fund improvements and facilities at Pixie Preserve. A general contractor who’s done work for us at the National Butterfly Center has offered his assistance with this design-build at no cost; so, we have draft plans for an environmentally-friendly, low-impact, (hopefully) LEED-certified, 2,720 square-foot building made of recycled shipping pods to house work and meeting space, more educational exhibits and restrooms. Although the restrooms are mentioned last, they are the most important feature of this facility, without which we cannot conduct school field trips — and youth education is the goal. In fact, we dream of doubling the number of students we serve each year from 6,000 to 12,000, once the preserve is fully open, for the love of butterflies.

 

With almost twenty incredible years invested in the fantastic experiment that is the National Butterfly Center, it is clear that educating people and equipping them to restore and rewild the land is just not enough — NABA and our members must take responsibility for more: We must create butterfly and native plant sanctuaries large enough to sustain species in meaningful numbers in order to advance our mission and accomplish our stated goal. Please join us on this new adventure. We want you to have a hand in the prosperity of Pixie Preserve, so that our natural treasures may remain a viable inheritance for generations to come.