South Point Elementary Native Wildflower Garden Creating Monarch Chrysalises, Caterpillars
A native wildflower garden has created quite a buzz at South Point Elementary.
The recently created garden has produced many Monarch caterpillars and chrysalises, which have become a big hit for students and staff.
Chrysalises can be described as a moth or butterfly at the stage of development when it is covered by a hard case, before it becomes an adult insect with wings. The hard cases can be seen all over the garden and even on window sills at some spots of the building.
South Point Elementary nurse Lori Ruether is the one who spearheaded the project to create the garden.
“It started as just a couple of native garden enthusiast school nurses approaching administration to look into increasing native plantings throughout the district,” Ruether said. “With the new construction of South Point and the installation of the gifted Larry Pogue statue, we had the opportunity to fill a brand new bed with pollinator plants.”
Donations from the PTC at South Point Elementary as well as some independent donations helped to purchase plants and seeds. South Point staff and students, along with their families, also donated time and money to help develop the garden.
“We had a few volunteers help plant everything in the spring of 2022,” Ruether said. “We watered and weeded all summer and the plants just started growing and the pollinators and birds kept coming.”
The garden’s progress has been shared on social media in their Facebook group, "SDOW Native Gardening Group".
“It’s our hope that the garden will inspire a lifelong interest in nature and our environment,” Ruether said. “The students are thrilled to have an outdoor science class. With the recent news that the Monarch butterflies are now listed as endangered, it’s so amazing that just our little native wildflower garden has so many Monarch caterpillars and chrysalises.”
Ruether and the South Point staff are taking the opportunity to teach the students about the garden and what it’s creating.
“Students are learning about the life cycle of plants starting with a seed, and the life cycle of a butterfly,” Ruether said. “They are learning about how living things adapt to their environment. They have talked about picking plants, trees, and flowers that are native to Missouri and how that supplies food for birds, pollinators and animals. They are learning how to love and respect nature.”
Pictures of the wildflower garden at South Point Elementary are below.
