I’m lucky that my job as Vice President of New Media for Business Wire has allowed me to apply the useful skills learned in my professional life to a passion for butterflies. For the past several years I’ve blogged about butterflies at www.texasbutterflyranch.com, provided updates on the Monarch butterfly migration as
Tagged Monarch Butterfly, September 2011
@butterflybeat on Twitter, and used my Powerpoint prowess to share the daily miracle of metamorphosis with children, gardeners, seniors and others. I’ve also raised caterpillars (butterflies-to-be) in my kitchen and brought them to work when they’re about to “go chrysalis” on me, much to my colleagues’ amusement.
Recently I had another amazing opportunity to spread the butterfly gospel, thanks to Business Wire’s generous BW Gives Back program. Organizers of the Amazing Butterflies Exhibit at the San Antonio Botanical Garden (SABOT) invited me to lead a butterfly hunt, demonstrate how to tag a Monarch butterfly, and share the beloved insects’ remarkable migration story.
SABOT’s educational exhibit, which runs through January 8, leads participants through a garden maze in which they can simulate life as a caterpillar, then a butterfly, gaining insight about the life cycle along the way.
About 30 nature lovers attended the talk, admiring Monarch eggs and caterpillars collected along the Llano River in the Texas Hill Country. Prior, we netted a Monarch butterfly in SABOT’s lovely butterfly garden and finished up the presentation with a tagging demonstration.
At the San Antonio Botanical Garden: Let's go tag some Monarch Butterflies! --photo by Mary Fisher
For those unaware, Monarch butterflies make an amazing migratory journey from Michoacan, Mexico each year, starting in April and flying north to Canada. Over the course of multiple generations, the resilient creatures traverse the eastern United States to Canada in the Spring, their great great grandchildren returning in the Fall to their ancestral winter roosts in Mexico. April and October are primetime for Monarch butterfly fans in Texas, which is the “funnel” for all Monarch traffic, north and southbound.
Metamorphosis, mediamorphisis–when you think about it, the two have much in common: constant change, endless fascination, reflections of ourselves. Thanks to Business Wire for allowing me the opportunity to marry the two passions that most consume my time at work and after hours.
Very inspiring business post you have here. It goes to show not only the power of unique content blogging, but, how sharing your creativity in your unique way of thinking as a blogger can have major influence on the internet. Took a look at the blog, and can say it was very pleasing to look at, in addition to the insightful content posted. Great job! =)
http://www.DrewryMedia.com
Hey, I’m just glad to see a real live useful posting on LinkedIn. I thought it was just a bother. Mainly, I’m glad to see what you’re up to, Monica. Hurray!