We enjoyed the presentation that Kyle Lucyk from Living Prairie Museum gave to all of the classes involved in this project. We learned that butterflies are known as things of beauty, but they have also an important role to play in our eco-system. Butterflies pollinate many of our plants that we harvest. They are second only to bees. Butterflies also serve as a barometer for the health of a local environment. Unfortunately, butterfly populations are deceasing due to a loss in habitat. There are far fewer natural meadows present in our cities and suburbs. Butterflies can be enticed back into an environment by simply planting a garden that will have plants for caterpillars to feed on as well as flowers from which butterflies can sip nectar. Kyle taught us that different plants attract different types of butterflies. Butterflies love sun so at Strathmillan School we located our garden at the front of the school facing west which would provide good exposure. The location by the front entrance also protects the garden from strong winds. It would be difficult for the butterflies to feed properly if they were being buffeted by the wind. The staff at Living Prairie Museum assisted students in planting the garden. We are ensuring frequent butterfly visits by planting a wide variety of annuals, perennials and shrubs. This provides both nectar and larval food sources. We also had a presentation from the “Butterfly Lady”. She taught us about the life cycle of the butterfly and how to raise our own. Several butterfly kits were purchased in the spring and students were able to release their Painted Lady butterflies into our Butterfly Garden at our Celebrations of Learning. Teachers and grades involved in this project include: Blythe Lodwick (Grade 1), Debbie Stewart (Grade 1), Jane Logan (K), and Nelson Soltess (Grades 4/5). To learn more about this initiative, please contact Jonathan Baker, Vice Principal. (spring 2009)

In April, Kyle Lucyk, Education Coordinator from the Living Prairie Museum, met with the principals of these four elementary schools to discuss the logistics of the new flower beds and to plan student presentations with each school.

At Voyageur School, Mr Lucyk met with the Grade Three classes who will be assisting in the planting of their school’s butterfly garden because it ties in perfectly with their grade 3 science unit, Plants. During his presentation to the students, Mr Lucyk discussed how the prairie ecosystem was a habitat for animals and plants and that the prairie plants that come back every year are called perennials. He explained to the students that when they were ready to plant the garden they would have to design where the plants would go by looking at colour, height and the time the plants flowered. Voyageur students agreed they wanted a mix of colour in their butterfly garden! Mr Lucyk showed the students pictures of the types of plants that will be planted in the new butterfly gardens: Early Blue Violets, Asters, Swamp Milkweed, Joe Pie Weed, Pussy Toes, Liatris, Heart Leaved Alexander, Black Eyed Susans and New England Asters. He explained that butterflies are attracted to and eat the nectar in these plants.

St James Assiniboia School Division grounds person Larry McLeod has been busy visiting the four schools and assisting school custodians in the enlarging of: current flower beds, ordering topsoil and coordinating the delivery of the topsoil at each of the sites in preparation for the planting of the gardens by the students with Mr Lucyk’s expert assistance. At Voyageur School Mrs Richardson’s Grade 1/2 class will be harvesting caterpillars to release as butterflies so they will be “free to fly” in the new butterfly garden sometime in June! To learn more about this initiative, contact one of the Principals of these participating schools. (spring 2009)