Butterfly Rangers help enhance pollination in qathet region

Members of the Butterfly Rangers for David Suzuki Foundation and planting pollinators in the qathet region recently erected a new sign at Duncan Street and Manson Avenue.

“I had approached the city a few years ago and have been working with Mike Kaban, the parks supervisor; we have three spots and this is the latest one this year,” said Butterfly Ranger Lesley Thorsell. “I wanted to do something positive during COVID-19 so we started the one at the sea walk, the Butterfly Way boat, then added the patch on the corner of Cranberry Street by the liquor store. This one is our most beautiful, full of bees and butterflies.

“The boat on the seawall, which was started in 2021, is at the very beginning, the parking lot where the coast guard office is. It’s been there since last year and now a resident has added a Tulip tree and a bench as a memorial for her parents and the city has added a picnic table so it is becoming a rest place for people with flowers.”

Thorsell said funding was received from First Credit Union’s Community Impact Fund.

“The First Credit Union is so pleased with the results of the Duncan and Manson area across from Fix Auto that they have approved Community Impact funds for next year,” said Thorsell. “Fix Auto has kindly let us use their hose to water the spot and it is looking beautiful.

“[Fellow Butterfly Ranger] Claudia Bich and I worked on it together. It’s a lot of work and watering but worth it. We’re always looking for more volunteer waterers.”

Thorsell said the Cranberry location has a new sign and some mulch as it has struggled a bit this year with the heat.

“When we are watering people walk by and say how it has inspired them to plant pollinators in their own gardens without pesticides, and how much they enjoy walking by the flowers when it just used to be weeds,” said Thorsell. “People say it brightens their day and that is the goal, to spread some joy for people and food for the bees and butterflies that produce over one-third of our food source.

“Springtime Nursery has been amazing, giving us some free plants and soil for the Cranberry spot.”

Thorsell and Bich didn’t know each other and only met after both replied to a butterfly project with David Suzuki and became Butterfly Ranger volunteers to assist bees and butterflies by planting native pollinators.

“She is my pollinator partner,” said Thorsell. “There are at least 10 others in Powell River and Texada; we meet when we can to share projects.”

Artwork for the signs in Cranberry and on Duncan Street was created by Stefan Fogarty, the artist known as Catnip, who was commissioned with some of the funds from the credit union.