DUMMERSTON-The Dummerston Conservation Commission presents what they call "an amazing program" at Evening Star Grange, 1008 East-West Rd., on Friday, Sept. 27, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
In February 2024, longtime friends Emily Wrubel and Judy Fink took the trip of a lifetime to the Mariposa Monarca Biosphere Reserve in Angangueo, Mexico, where Eastern monarch butterflies journey to spend the winter.
Fink retired from 35 years of teaching children and teachers and working in farm education. She moved to the top of the highest hill in Dummerston in 2012. She served on the Dummerston Conservation Commission from 2017 to 2021. Wrubel is a retired middle school math and science teacher, having gotten her start in outdoor education. She's lived in the woods of Hillsboro, New Hampshire, for more than 37 years.
Several years ago, Fink 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 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, Fink 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, Wrubel planted her own pollinator garden, including swamp milkweed plants Fink had given her. She also participated in a butterfly banding project at the Harris Center in Hancock, New Hampshire.
When the opportunity came for both to travel to Angangueo, Fink and Wrubel eagerly embarked on the journey.
They will recount their adventures of journeying 3,000 miles and 11,000 feet in elevation to stand among the millions of wintering monarchs in Mexico. They will share their photos, videos, and stories of what they've learned about the monarch life cycle and inform participants how they can get involved in conserving this species.
This program is free, but donations are welcome.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.