One Bensalem Student’s Mission: A Community Butterfly Garden

BENSALEM, PA — Helmed by a Bensalem 12-year-old, Mission: Monarchs will take on its second phase planting for Bensalem’s Community Butterfly Garden at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The pollinator garden will host a Monarch Waystation, a visitors’ area, and a wildflower meadow with more than fifty species of plants that support native pollinator populations.

“I’m trying to do my part as best I can,” said Abigail Krevolin, Mission: Monarchs’ founder and a recent graduate of Valley Elementary School. “It’s probably going to sound so corny, but I call it the butterfly effect. Me talking about monarchs inspires someone else to raise monarchs, and then that’s 100 monarchs that wouldn’t be living [otherwise].”

Krevolin started the organization in August of 2017, and sees it as doing her part to help save the earth. She had already been raising, tagging, and releasing captive-reared monarch butterflies for several years, but wanted to dream bigger.

Krevolin now helps teach young children at local preschools, scout troops, and day cares about climate change, habitat destruction, and the importance of butterfly conservation. She hopes to one day register Mission: Monarchs as a non-profit.

“I sell merchandise to be able to gain more money for projects like what I’m doing now, and to be able to have the right resources to do things in the future with my monarchs,” she explained. Mission: Monarchs sells buttons, stickers, magnets, and more.

Krevolin also created Bensalem’s first certified Monarch Waystation, a haven for butterflies that must feature direct sunlight for at least two hours of the day, two varieties of milkweed plant, and a good water source. She has a small waystation outside her home, and Saturday’s community garden project will help finalize a very large one.

On Saturday, Krevolin will oversee volunteers in the planting of around 600 plants, while the garden is also outfitted with handmade wooden benches and over 500 ft. of stone walkways. Phase one of planting in this project began in May, when nearly 50 community members, business owners, and elected officials came out to help plant about 200 plants and spread 15 pounds of wildflower seed. Nottingham Fire Department has since aided in watering the meadow.

These community connections mean a lot to Krevolin.

“I’ve enjoyed [running Mission: Monarch] as a way to learn more about other people, and I’ve also learned more about myself,” she said.

The garden’s grand opening is tentatively scheduled for August, when the plants will have bloomed and the bricks will have been laid.

“We’re going to give everything some time to grow, be there, and get to know its environment — because plants are living things, too,” Krevolin explained.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome to join in all or some of Saturday’s planting — and while basic garden equipment will be available, those who own shovels or wheelbarrows are encouraged to bring them along.

The garden is located at 4301 Richlieu Rd. in Bensalem. To get in touch or learn more about Mission: Monarchs, visit their Facebook page.

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