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I-35 Monarch Waystation interpretive signs were dedicated in ribbon cutting ceremonies held on October 2, 2021, at Hill and Bell County safety rest areas (SRA). These signs are part of a collaborative effort between federal and state governments and the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT). The Society designed and installed Monarch Waystations featuring native pollinator plants at Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) highway SRA in 2016, with funding by a grant from the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Kay Jenkins and Kim Conrow from NPSOT, Katie Boyer from USFWS and Brent Johnson & Khoa Nguyen from the TXDOT spoke about the educational and safety values of the signs and gardens to the public. It is important for humans to take breaks from driving. The SRA give drivers needed time to refocus and come back to driving as refreshed and safer drivers. Having the gardens and signs in SRA are a wonderful addition to the human experience and help to accomplish the goal of having safer drivers on our highways.
The gardens do double duty as patches of habitat that provide host and nectar plants necessary for Monarchs and other pollinators to produce successive generations. Texas is on the path of the Monarch annual migration and I-35 has been designated as the Monarch Highway. The rest areas act as waystations to both humans and pollinators. Food, shelter and rest can be found there for all!
Thanks to everyone who helped!
The signs were designed by Interpretive Insights in Houston, owned by Amanda Hughes-Horan. They were produced in South Dakota by Gopher Signs. They were installed by Fast Signs in Waco with help from TxDOT hole-digging crews led by Tim Meeks and Jerrod Swift. The life cycle graphic was done by Society member Susan Smith. The photographs were created by Carol Clark, who along with Kay Jenkins and Suzanne Tuttle finalized the text of the signs. Led by Kay Jenkins and Ilse Meir the gardens have been maintained by members of the Society, Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists in both Hill and Bell Counties. The original garden plants were chosen by Carol Feldman. This has been and continues to be a group effort!
Small acts make a big difference
We are making a difference. Native plants provide beauty, durability, and life. Lets all do everything we can to plant life-sustaining native species. This simple act can bring joy to your life as you see your surroundings filled with butterflies and birds. We have taken the opportunity, through applied environmental knowledge and strength of will, to protect the Monarchs and other pollinators so that they will be here long into the future. The I-35 gardens and signs will help to educate millions of people about the Monarch Highway, the plight of the monarch butterflies, their amazing lifecycle and ways that anyone can help through the choice of plants they put in their home landscapes.
How to Help
To donate to the I-35 Monarch Waystation program, please visit Donate to a Project.
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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: kimconrow
