Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
Little children have a wonder and curiosity about the world around them that is delightful to behold. They have a zeal and enthusiasm for life and discovering new things that’s enviable to us of the older persuasion. Students from the ARK Preschool at the Ocean City Tabernacle are no exception. Imagine their excitement when the Ocean City Environmental Commission came to their school to help them plant a butterfly garden on Tuesday, October 5.
Catherine Cipolla, one of the commission’s members, taught the preschoolers about butterflies and the importance of providing native plants that both adult butterflies and caterpillars need to survive. The commission brought armfuls of plants with them to get the garden started including: coneflowers, bee balm, garden phlox, goldenrod, rudbeckia, swamp milkweed, butterfly weed (a species of milkweed), and blue asters. Cipolla explained that milkweed is necessary for Monarch butterflies to survive because it is the only host plant that Monarch caterpillars eat. One keen-eyed student, five-year-old Grace Green, spotted a Monarch butterfly caterpillar on the butterfly weed that they were about to plant. The students were excited that their garden was off to a great start and already hosting visitors.
Students were soon digging in the dirt, eagerly planting flowers that would attract new pollinators to their garden. Normally, keeping the attention of preschoolers can be a challenging task, but teachers and members of the commission alike were surprised by the focused enthusiasm of the students. Cipolla remarked that, “The kids are having a ball and we want them to continue this project to learn about planting seeds to keep the garden growing each year.”
Other members of the commission that came to help plant the garden were Rick Bernardini, chairman, and Betsy Lehman. Also lending a helping hand were student volunteers from Ocean City High School. Olivia Heng, President of the Ocean City High School Student Environmental Association, serves as a liaison between the commission and the school. Channon Styer, Vice-President of the student association, also helped the preschoolers plant flowers. Both of the Ocean City High School seniors participate in activities for the commission including enlisting the help of other high school volunteers.
One of the Ocean City Environmental Commission’s goals is to “work to educate the community to learn about native plants to attract pollinators and specifically, Monarchs.” In April, the commission planted native beach plums in Ocean City that were donated by Jalma Farms of Ocean View. During the “Green Fair” which was held on the Ocean City Boardwalk in August, volunteers in the group handed out milkweed kits and origami seed packets. The commission looks forward to the environmental “Fun Day” expected to be held during President’s Weekend in February. In past years, the Fun Days have included crafts, games, and music. This year, they plan to have small peat pots and potting soil available for children to plant seeds and do crafts. The commission also hopes to have the Cape May County Zoo return to entertain the kids as in years past.
Lisa Mack, director of the ARK Preschool, said, “The ARK Preschool is very excited to have a butterfly garden on the Ocean City Tabernacle property for the students to learn and enjoy the life cycle of a butterfly! Not only is it beautiful, but it is educational! We are very grateful to the Environmental Commission for launching this project and helping us to maintain it.” Bravo to the commission for “planting the seeds” of what may be a lifelong love of gardening and nature for these young children.
Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.
