Community Day for Butterflies

by Luke Little

On the last day of every semester, the whole Minarets school contributes to the community with a day of school-wide collaboration. This community day, Spanish teacher UP planted different types of plants in the planter boxes right out of the 600 building. These planter boxes have been dry and lifeless for years so UP and her students brought them back to life by putting milkweed in them, a certain type of plant that monarch butterflies and bees are very attracted to. 

Many students got down and dirty in the planter boxes digging, raking, and shoveling the soil to make it more suitable for the incoming plants. They also added new planter soil over the old dirt to make it more nutritious for the plants. Even though the planter soil didn’t smell the best, it didn’t stop any of the students from spreading it around and digging with their bare hands to make room. 

Students working diligently to add new plants for butterflies.

UP, supervisor and teacher for the event described, “We wanted to revamp the garden to add to the beauty of our campus and we want the garden to be a place for students to stop and reflect or destress if needed. We also planted milkweed which provides a habitat for the monarchs, where they can lay their eggs.”

In the end, this event benefited not only the monarch butterflies, but also the student body, making it a great community day activity.