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Written by Kirsi Bhasin, RES Class of 2024, Certified 2024
It all began with a Monarch butterfly, which I spotted fluttering through our backyard during our first summer after moving to NJ. Despite not having planted flowers or having any blooms at the time, the butterfly’s presence intrigued me. However, the following week, I found a dead Monarch on the side of the road, which deeply saddened me. This sighting led me to research the decline of Monarchs and other insects, and I became determined to do something to help, even though I had no idea where to start. I had many questions about the butterfly’s needs and habits, prompting me to take action.
Inspired by the Monarch, I decided to create a butterfly garden in our backyard, located near where I had first seen the butterfly. Although I was a novice gardener, I went to a native plant nursery and purchased 20 plants, including milkweed. This marked the beginning of my journey into learning about native plants and wildlife. To deepen my knowledge, I completed the Rutgers Environmental Steward program and my certification project with Washington Crossing State Park, which helped me gain valuable insights into environmental conservation and sustainable practices. Armed with new knowledge, I grew increasingly passionate about transforming our property from an area filled with turf grass and invasive plants into a thriving wildlife habitat, ultimately planting over 1,000 native plants on our 5-acre property.
Our property was heavily infested with invasive species such as Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii), Burningbush (Euonymus alatus), and Morrow’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) and I quickly realized that these plants were suffocating the land’s natural beauty. Over time, I removed truckloads of these invasive shrubs and watched as wildlife, including over 20 species of butterflies, returned to our property. I also saw rare species, like the great blue heron and red-shouldered hawk. Motivated by our success, I registered our area, Hopewell Valley, as a National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat Community called Hopewell Valley Gardens for Wildlife. Together with a dedicated, passionate team, we are helping other property owners create their own wildlife havens.