Bolles upper school science teacher Dr. Brett Moyer invited Adam Arendell, who is on the Board of Directors of the Florida Native Plant Society, to speak with students taking Environmental Science about the danger invasive tropical milkweed poses to monarch butterflies on May 7.

Arendell explained how the tropical milkweed, which is readily available in big box garden centers, is causing problems for the monarchs as planting this species leads to the proliferation of a parasite that weakens the butterfly populations. 

With help from Dr. Moyer and Arendell, the Bolles Environmental Science class modeled a better landscaping strategy of planting native milkweed that is white, not multicolored like the non-native milkweed. Their efforts were rewarded – and seemingly approved by – a monarch butterfly that landed on the milkweed minutes after the planting.

View more pictures of the native milkweed planting in our online photo gallery. #BollesInnovates