I have just returned from planting 5 lantana plants at City Beach Access 5. This is where for the past year I have been trying to create a butterfly garden. A woman with her child walked by and asked if I was being paid to do this. I told her no and that I just did it because I like to. She thanked me. This past Wednesday some highschool students went before the BOA to ask if they could turn the "suburban carpet grass backyard looking" lot behind the Visitors' Center into a Butterfly Garden. When any teenagers come forward to make such a request they should be embrased and encouraged! But instead there were concerns. What if the city wants to sell it later (can't have people getting attached to it -- look what's happening at Isla Blanca Park!) Can you imagine if NYC had this attitude -- there wouldn't be a Central Park! (My husband pointed out that's where all the muggings take place -- yes, parks can be dangerous.) Another concern was brought up by Mr. Cunningham that there is alot of traffic and the birds might be in danger. If the birds walked across the street, perhaps -- but birds fly and so do butterflies -- now if there were lots of airplanes flying around behind the Visitor's Center, there truly might be a danger -- I'm sorry Cunningham's arguement just doesn't fly.

The point is simple. All the lots are being developed. There will be no habitat areas anywhere except on public land, in private yards and on the dunes. It should be a matter of public policy to adopt the use of natives and butterfly-attacting plants into their landscaping. Butterfly gardens should be everywhere! Port Isabel has been doing a great job of creating hot spots of color on there street corners. On the island, Zeste has done a beautiful job and there are other businesses starting to do the same. We must all donate a little space in our gardens for habitat.

Maybe Lady Bird Johnson had a huge influence on me or maybe it's because I'm from Austin -- but in my opinion wild flowers are not weeds.