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Presentation to Monroe County Schools
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For the past few years the Trophia butterfly Foundation has donated a variety
of books, posters and DVD's to complement the existing media resources
within the Monroe County school system. Books on butterflies, plants and
birds relating to the "greening" of our environment have been filling the library
shelves of the fourteen campuses and charter schools within Monroe County.
In January 2008, Trophia Board members Cherre Marchak, Sue Sullivan and
retired member, "Gardening Angel" Lake Andrews visited schools within the
keys district and personally presented checks, earmarked toward the purchase
of additional books to Media Specialists at Coral Shores High School, Key
Largo
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High School, Plantation School and Sugarloaf School. Sue also met with Lori Roberts and her kindergarten class at Poinciana School
which the TBF has sponsored for the 2007/2008 school year. The class has received their own butterfly poster and puzzle. They
discussed butterflies and their life cycles and are looking forward to their field trip to the Butterfly Conservatory.
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(Above) Gardening Angel Lake Andrews and Board Member Cherre Marchak present check to Media Specialist Joanne Brennan of Sugarloaf School.
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tree enthusiasts an opportunity to donate
to the Lost Canopy Restoration Project at
Key West High School. Ken notes that the
wide open space and lack of infrastructure
conflicts (streets, curbs, utility poles, sewer
and water lines) make the campus a won-
derful place to plant native shade trees
which will eventually mature and replace
canopy lost during the recent hurricanes.
School board guidelines stipulate that any
"landscaping plans must incorporate the
principles of xeriscaping , once the plants
are initially established they must be capa-
ble of surviving on rain water only." Ken
plans to include 30 or 40 different species
of native trees and palms, trees necessary
for any xeriscaping effort, and diverse
enough to provide students with an educa-
tional experience as they roam the grounds
and observe what's growing. While this col-
lection of indigenous trees can't be called a
butterfly garden, many of the trees function
as butterfly host plants. Attempting to
restore canopy with trees that require little
maintenance and live for many years can't
be bad for butterflies, either.
KWHS Principal John Welsh watches as students gather
to begin the "Lost Canopy" project. Keynoter photo by
Kyle Teal. ©2008 Keynoter Publishing Co. Inc.
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Restoring the
"Lost Canopy" at
Key West High School
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Our mission is the restoration
and preservation of butterfly populations
through sustainable habitat rehabilitation
public education and community outreach.
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BOARD of DIRECTORS
Jimmy Olson - President
Sue Sullivan - Vice President
Richard T. Stephens - Treasurer
David E. Bray - Secretary
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Ann Dadd
Betsy Dietz
George Fernandez
Carl Gilley
Ken King
Cherre Marchak
Antonio Martinez
Sam Trophia
Mary Ann Westerlund
Julia Woods
HONORARY
BOARD MEMBERS
Christine Trophia
Lake Andrews
NEWSLETTER
Betsy Dietz, Editor
David E. Bray
Antonio Martinez
Ann Dadd
JT Thompson/Solares Hill Design Group
(305) 831-1269
PO Box 6623 o Key West, Fl 33041
www.TheTrophiaButterflyFoundation.org
info@TheTrophiaButterflyFoundation.org
A 501(c)3 Corporation FEIN # 20-000023
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Easier Butterfly Gardening... Planting Tropical Milkweed
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essential types of plants: 1) a source for nectar; and 2) a host plant for the butterflies to
lay their eggs. The nectar source will supply the adult butterfly, while the host plant will
nourish the growing caterpillar. Both plants are essential in maintaining a continuous
supply of butterflies. The rest is up to nature... just watch and marvel at the wonder
which is the world of butterflies.
One plant, which any butterfly garden would do well to have is the Milkweed or
Butterfly Weed (i.e.,Asclepias curassavica), which doubles as both a nectar source and
host plant for the butterflies, particularly the Monarch. A tropical milkweed, although not
native to Florida, this plant looks much like its native cousin, with the exception of its
bright orange and tangerine flower color. It enjoys a sandy soil and is not particularly
water-intensive. Milkweed is a shrubby perenial, growing to between 2-3' tall by the
same width. The plant is in blossom from spring to fall and thrives in full sun or
partial shade. Pods split open when ripe, allow fluffy seeds to be distributed by the wind.
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Web Design:
Antonio Martinez
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