The Dummerston Conservation Commission presents an amazing program on Monarch Butterflies on Friday September 27 at 7 PM at the Dummerston Grange, 1008 East-West Road,

In February 2024, dear old friends Emily Wrubel and Judy Fink took the trip of a lifetime to the Mariposa Monarcha Biosphere Reserve in Angangueo, Mexico, where our eastern monarch butterflies journey to spend the winter.

Several years ago, Judy, a Dummerston resident and monarch butterfly enthusiast, planted swamp milkweed in her kitchen garden, which that summer attracted scores of monarchs. They deposited their tiny eggs on the plants' leaves and flowers. The emerging caterpillars devoured all but the branches, formed jewel-like chrysalides on chairs, eaves and hoses, and then metamorphosed into splendid adult butterflies. Those very butterflies – the super migrators - embarked on an epic southward journey to Mexico. The following two summers, in partnership with the Dummerston Conservation Commission, Judy invited community members to participate in a local monarch project. For two summers, an enthusiastic group planted swamp milkweed in their gardens and monitored the health of the monarch population. In the meantime, Emily, who lives in Hillsboro, NH, planted her own pollinator garden, and included swamp milkweed plants that Judy had given her. She also participated in a butterfly banding project at the Harris Center in Hancock, NH.

When the opportunity came to travel to Angangueo, how could we refuse?

Come join their monarch journey, as we recount our adventures here at home and as we travel three thousand miles and 11,000 feet in elevation to stand among the millions of wintering monarchs in Mexico. They will share our photos, videos, stories, give you a glimpse of what we've learned about the amazing monarch life cycle, and let you know how you can get involved in conserving this fragile species.

About the speakers:
Judy retired from 35 years of teaching children, teachers and farm education, and moved to the top of the highest hill in Dummerston in 2012. She served on the Dummerston Conservation Commission from 2017-2021.

Emily is a retired middle school math and science teacher, having gotten her start in outdoor education. She's lived in the woods of Hillsboro, NH for over 37 years.

Lynn Levine
Dummerston Conservation Commission member
The program is by donation only.
Please bring check or cash.

Here is a link to a picture of Judy and Emily:
https://indd.adobe.com/view/8217ef02-dc98-44b3-ae95-dc7dd4162542

Event Info

Dec 28, 2024, 11 AM to 12 PM

Dec 31, 2024, 6 PM

Jan 3, 2025, 10:30 AM to 12 PM