The Lumberjack student newspaper
Monarch butterfly sipping nectar from a Mexican sunflower. Photo credit: Lauren Shea

Oh my butterflies

The Humboldt Botanical Garden aims to create a more abundant butterfly community.
Translate

By | Lauren Shea

Butterflies galore! Experience walking around butterflies at the Butterfly House. The Humboldt Botanical Garden opened its very first Butterfly House on July 1st. The project was designed to help educate people with an interest in butterflies, gardeners and families with children. People from all ages have visited the Butterfly house to see the life cycle of the butterflies native to the area.

The life span of a butterfly takes place in four stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and butterfly. There are four kinds of butterflies in the Butterfly House including painted ladies, western swallowtails, red admirals and monarchs.

LSBF2
A display of different types of butterflies. Photo credit: Lauren Shea

Ibby Gerner, Volunteer Coordinator for The Humboldt Botanical Garden, talked about the response to their first Butterfly House.

“There has been almost 2,500 people visiting the Butterfly House since it opened it July,” Gerner said. “We’ve had a great response to the garden. Both adults and children have come to see the Butterfly House.”

Terry Kramer, the Site Manager at the Humboldt Botanical Garden, talked about her experience with the Butterfly House and the visitors.

“People are really excited and want to learn more about the Butterflies,” Kramer said. “One of the most unique qualities from this Butterfly House compared to others is that people can walk around with the Butterflies and see them up close.”

The Butterfly House consists mostly of Mexican sunflowers to provide nectar for the butterflies and milkweed for breeding. Many people in the area have removed milkweed from their yards. In most recent years, the population of monarch butterflies have been decreasing due to lack of habitat, loss of milkweed and pesticides.

LSBF4
The Butterfly House is located in the greenhouse at the Humboldt Botanical Garden. Photo credit: Lauren Shea

“The amount of monarch butterflies is down by 80 percent,” Kramer said.

Mary Gearheart, Garden Designer for The Humboldt Botanical Garden, created the design for the Butterfly House including picking the right plants for the butterflies and also volunteers at the Butterfly House.

“It’s amazing how many people come from out of the area,” Gearheart said. “Just the other day, there were people visiting from upstate New York and visitors from Australia.”

LSBF1
Red admiral butterflies attracted to the white information pages inside the Butterfly House. Photo credit: Lauren Shea

There are plans to set up a garden outside where the Butterflies will be set free at the end of the month. The Humboldt Botanical Garden is hoping to start a butterfly garden outside year-round to help increase the population of butterflies and give them a safe habitat to live in.

“We would like to create a garden of milkweed, Mexican sunflowers and other butterfly friendly plants right next to the sunflower garden,” Gearheart said.

The Humboldt Botanical Garden is applying for a grant that would allow for an intern to work in the Butterfly House for next year. They’re also hoping to set up more school trips to the garden to educate children.

There is a $3 suggested donation fee to help support the Butterfly House. It’s open from Wednesday to Sunday 12p.m. to 4p.m. and will be open till the end of September. There are many volunteer opportunities at the Butterfly House and the Humboldt Botanical Garden. For more information, you can call the Humboldt Botanical Office at (707) 442- 5139 or email the office at hbgf@hbgf.org.

 

Share This Post

More Stories

Nina G uses comedy to start conversations

During the virtual comedy event held by the SDRC, Nina Ghiselli tells her story and emphasizes the importance of student disability resources within schools.

It’s not just the Capitol Police

As the world watched from their televisions on January 6, we witnessed scenes unfold before our eyes that were, to many, unimaginable: supporters of President Trump swarmed the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building, then proceeded to break in and

The San Jose State University Football Team Comes to Humboldt

On a day’s notice from administration, the SJSU football team spends a week and a half in Humboldt practicing because their county did not allow it. Students react to their presence on campus in the midst of a pandemic. Directed

Homelessness in Humboldt, CA

This is the first trailer of a homeless documentary created by HSU students. We have spent months filming and will continue to film throughout the next year. Follow the heartbreaking stories of the homeless community around Humboldt county and the

Thrifty Arcata

Taking a tour of the local thrift shops in Arcata during the COVID-19 pandemic. Directed and produced by Skylar Gaven.

House Plants Generate Peace and Meaning During the Pandemic

Three different people with the same love for plants! House plants have become quite popular these days especially since we’re all basically stuck inside during the pandemic. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but these beautiful green oxygen-makers provide more

Prop 22 represents political favoritism of money over workers’ rights

California’s passing of proposition 22 on Nov. 5 represents a frustrating history of workers’ rights being trampled by the overwhelming influence of greed in politics.  This proposition forces app-based workers to be classified as independent contractors, rather than employees. This

Remembering Evelyn Andrews 10 months after her passing

By Katelyn Dendas It has been 10 months since my friend, teammate and freshman year dorm mate, Evelyn Andrews, passed away. I don’t remember what the grief counselor said or what transpired after that Monday, but I do remember arriving

Protestors seek to defund HSUPD

Two local, activist organizations work together to stage a sit-in against Humboldt State’s police department.

Getting stuck on the Trump train

Writer Anthony Aragon details his experience of accidentally joining a pro-Trump car rally.

Justin Turner exposes the World Series to COVID-19

Justin Turner didn’t need to be the story in the wake of the Dodgers’ first World Series victory in 32 years. Instead here we are, wondering what sort of, if any, punishment Major League Baseball will decide to hand down

Four more years of fear

News Editor Carlos Holguin explains why he is worried about the next four years.

Dismal democracy

The Lumberjack editorial staff comments on America’s flawed electoral system As the world watches the United States 2020 election results, waiting for our pseudodemocratic process to churn out a new president, historically unprecedented voting methods misrepresents the reported Election Day

The Mario triple pack invokes a nostalgia attack

When I was a child, the first video game system I owned was a Nintendo 64. Among the games I played was Super Mario 64. I played it all the time and when I wasn’t playing it, I was lying

Women’s lacrosse drops their competitive season

Greta Roberts, president and player of Humboldt State University’s women’s lacrosse team, made the decision with her coach and teammates to cancel the upcoming spring season. The team decided that not being able to recruit in the fall would be

Dobby’s proposition opinions

Haven’t voted yet? Well, you’re running out of time. Here’s a quick rundown of California’s propositions on the ballot this year

Corporations buy out propositions

In a series of general and misleading advertisements, corporate backers of Propositions 22 and 23 show their grubby hands

CDOR continues virtually

The Campus and Community Dialogue On Race returns covering global justice for Black Lives.

Indigenous Food Sovereignty

Local food management practices of the Tolowa Dee-ni, Yurok and other indigenous peoples.

Humboldt State Admin attempts to discredit the Lumberjack

***A Lumberjack editorial represents both the majority opinion of the student newspaper’s editorial board, nine editors, as well as the overwhelming majority of Humboldt State University’s student body. Collectively, an editorial echos, embodies and advocates for community beliefs.*** Insensitive communications

Music of the Moment 6

21 Savage and Metro Boomin drop a classic with “Savage Mode II”

Spartans arrive at HSU despite campus concerns

***Editor’s note: SJSU football program was tested in congruence with Mountain West conference guidelines*** The Spartans have arrived and this time they’re not carrying spears or shields. Instead the San Jose State football team stepped onto the Humboldt State campus

Music of the Moment 5

After shooting Megan Thee Stallion, Tory Lanez cancels himself

Welcome to the Twilight Zone

Comparisons between episodes of the classic TV show The Twilight Zone and our own dismal reality

Music of the Moment 4

YoungBoy Never Broke Again dodges the sophomore slump with his new album “Top.”

Self-Care Cuts

Changing your hair to change your life

HSU Seaweed Farm sets sail

The first commercially-approved seaweed farm in California will be on the map.

Music of the Moment 3

For better or worse, Big Sean is likely gone for good.

More Layers, More Protection?

Humboldt State demands double masking on campus, does more layers equal more protection?

The Ethnic Studies Bill is a Blessing

Ethnic Studies will thankfully become mandatory for all California State University students – as it should be.

The Complex Interface of Humans and Wildfires

How fire suppression is a mixed bag in Humboldt County Every fire season, blankets of smoke roll over Humboldt County. Here on the coast, that’s as close to wildfires as some of us get. But our practice of fire suppression

Defund HSU’s Police Department

Incidents of racism from the former UPD Chief, past examples of excessive force from current officers and a shrinking university budget.

How Not To Be Bitten By A Kitten

Please prepare to be prey Congratulations, a baby feline has recently come into your life. If they’re anywhere from 2-18 months, they bite. They see you as prey. Because you are prey. You always have been. You always will be.

Graduating Into Uncharted Waters

HSU graduates attempt to navigate a world turned upside-down by COVID-19 In May, Humboldt State University graduated hundreds of students, as it does every year. Unlike past years, graduates didn’t get to shake hands with their respective dean and receive

HSU Cultural Center Budget Slashed

Associated Students leaves student body devastated after significant reductions in cultural center’s budget.

All aboard the plague ship

Unprecedented times are met with normalized behavior, HSU puts students and community members at higher risk after reopening campus and student housing.

Music of the Moment

The hip-hop community rallies behind the Black Lives Matter Movement

Inside the Immune System

How the body uses multiple levels of defense against foreign intruders

Catcalling Can’t Continue

Verbal harassment toward women is about control and the assertion of gender discrimination