Fluttering Among the Flowers

The Ms. Timony Butterfly Garden, located on the corner of 36th and Ellicott streets, was created in the mid-1980’s by Ms. Timony, a second-grade teacher (now retired). In 2010, with support from the HSA, Murch partnered with the Monarch Sister Schools Program to restore this special retreat. Murch’s second and pre-K classes use our garden to learn about plants and insects. This is the spot where they release monarch and painted lady butterflies that they hatch in the classroom.  Students also help with planting and watering.

Bond with the Butterflies

Interested in volunteering? Please contact Karen Abrams or check the Murch Volunteer Job Board for current opportunities and needs.  For information about Murch’s other gardens and environmental projects, go to GreenScene.

The Butterflies are Here!

The beginning of the 2010-2011 school year coincides with the arrival of butterflies in the DC area.  At Murch’s Ms. Timony Butterfly Garden, monarch and eastern swallowtail butterflies have already been spotted. Monarchs are orange with black stripes. Eastern swallowtails are yellow with colorful patches and “tails” extending from the base of their wings.  Other insects also making their home in our garden are the Oleander aphid and lady bugs.   The tiny seedlings we planted last may have turned into hardy plants.  The beautiful blue mistflowers and purple New York ironweed flowers are in bloom  right now and are a tasty treat for our local insects.  Our sturdy stock of milkweed will provide the monarch caterpillars the food they need to turn into a new generation of butterflies.

Butterfly Garden Gets Facelift

In the spring of 2010, Murch  Second and Pre-K classes kicked off a two-year restoration of the Ms. Timony Butterfly Garden. In May, every child in each class got to plant at least one native variety of plant loved by our area butterflies.  In one afternoon, the second and pre-K kids had planted more than 180 tiny seedlings.  The students have been helping with watering the garden, watching it grow, and observing the variety of insects there.  While our seedlings mature, the milkweed -- the only plant Monarch butterflies eat during their caterpillar life-stage -- is growing like crazy. Do you know the difference between milkweed and foxglove beardtongue?  Have you ever seen a black and red horned milkweed beetle? If not, swing by the Butterfly Garden to find out!