Once again, dancing ‘butterflies’ will be passing out wildflower seed packets to parade-goers at the Riverside Memorial Day Parade on May 30, 2022. Post-parade, the seed packets will be available to the community while supplies last at East Providence City Hall and the Washington Trust Bank on Newport Avenue in Rumford.

“The environment is a new area of focus for Rotary International members in clubs like ours throughout the world,” states Betty Galligan, past president of the East Providence/Seekonk Rotary Club. “Seventy-five percent of the world’s plant species are dependent on pollinators, such as the monarch butterfly, to survive. We encourage everyone to help do their part in their own backyards and garden spaces by planting these wildflower seeds to attract butterflies.”

Each winter, colonies of monarch butterflies gather annually in Mexico and fly to the southern U.S. to lay their eggs on milkweed plants. Their offspring then flies as far north as Canada to lay their own eggs. After a third generation of butterflies hatches at the end of summer, a fourth “super” generation heads back to Mexico – typically a 6,000-mile round trip journey and the longest known migration of any insect species. The over-wintering monarch butterfly population experiences seasonal winter decline but remains higher than previous years. Data demonstrates that western U.S. monarchs have undergone a significant decline estimated at more than 95% since the 1980s.\

“Everywhere along their migration route, butterflies need a habitat to survive. If we can improve the pollinator habitat in our own community, we can be part of the solution,” states Galligan, whose late mother, a butterfly enthusiast, in part inspired the project.

Habitat loss for monarchs is believed to be caused by illegal logging in Mexico, modern agricultural practices in the U.S. and Canada where corn and soybeans no longer share space with milkweed plants, climate change, pesticide use, and urban sprawl.  Native plants provide nectar that nourishes the butterflies as well as other pollinators such as bumblebees, bats and moths. Without pollinators, 30 percent of food in grocery stores would disappear.

“Operation Pollination is not only a way to make our communities prettier with colorful wildflowers, but also to help save our butterfly and bee population,” adds Galligan. “We’re encouraging everyone – including residents, businesses, school teachers, and organizations – throughout East Providence, Seekonk and beyond to participate in this project with us Rotarians. We’re hoping our project can plant the seeds of awareness about the plight of the monarch butterfly and the science of pollination, and that it will grow into an impactful project that we can repeat year after year. It’s one way that Rotary can continue to bring about positive change in the world.”

Supporting the environment is Rotary's seventh area of focus, which are categories of service activities. It joins peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development. 

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