WESTFIELD — Sometimes small acts, when put together, can have the biggest impact on our communities. That’s what presenter Mary Metzger will discuss in her presentation “Monarch Butterflies: How to Make Your Yard a Haven for this Summer Visitor and Other Pollinators” at the Westfield Athenaeum on Aug. 14.
According to a study by entomologist and ecologist Doug Tallamy, “if everyone grew more native plants it would be equivalent to adding 20 national parks,” explained Metzger, a Westfield resident. “The milkweed plants that sustain monarch butterflies are just one small part of this interwoven fabric of life.”
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Metzger’s passion for the environment and ecology began during her childhood in rural Ohio. She chose entomology for one of her 4-H projects and gave a butterfly demonstration at the Ohio State Fair in seventh grade. Metzger worked as a landscaper, then became a registered nurse and certified to teach general science for grades 7-12. But it was her move to Cape Cod that further ignited her passion for the environment.
“I moved to Cape Cod in 1999 and it was in that beautiful place that I got an environmental education. Experts from all over the world vacation and work there, and I took advantage of every free program they offered,” recalled Metzger. “In the 11 years I lived there, I worked as a naturalist for Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, organized the nature walk program for Harwich Conservation Trust, wrote the environmental page for the Cape Cod Chronicle, led a successful online campaign — P is for Phosphorus, P is for Ponds — to outlaw phosphorus in dish detergents in Massachusetts, served on a town committee to find wastewater solutions for the nitrogen loading into the ocean and grew native pollinator plants to sell at farmer’s markets.”
Metzger’s experiences on Cape Cod combined with a life-changing experience with the book “Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants” by Tallamy.
“His research has shown that the traditional landscaping plants we have used, and I planted in my 20s, are mostly non-natives,” explained Metzger. “Insects do not recognize them as food, which is why we liked them. Combined with our damaging, chemically produced lawns, we have created a vast acreage of ecologically sterile areas. This has affected bird populations, which have decreased by 40% in the last 40 years. A bluebird needs to find 1,500 caterpillars to raise one clutch. It turns out they need native plants.”
In addition to biodiversity, Metzger is interested in clean water and clean air, global warming and the eco-economics of finding solutions to these issues.
“I personally believe it is much more efficient in the long run to work with nature and very important for our own health and well-being,” said Metzger.
The free presentation will look at the life cycle of the monarch butterfly and its journeys to and from Mexico, as well as threats to its populations and how home gardeners can help them and other pollinators thrive. Metzger hopes to have some live caterpillars for attendees to examine and some butterfly milkweed plants to give away.
It will run 6-7:30 p.m. in the Lang Auditorium at the Athenaeum, at 6 Elm St., Westfield. Advance registration is required at westath.libcal.com/event/12574383.
