From Left to Right – Diane Cardwell, Don Riepe, Charley The Dog, Kristi Dickerson
The New York Times published an article last week stating the monarch butterfly has been placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
The Times informed, “In 2020, U.S. wildlife officials found that monarchs were threatened with extinction but declined to add them to the endangered species list because they said conservation of other species took priority…. Eastern monarchs, which make up most of the population in North America, dropped by 84 percent from 1996 to 2014.”
What has contributed to this alarming decline?
- Habitat destruction in Mexican forests / illegal logging
- Farm pesticides throughout the U.S. and elsewhere – killing vast spreads of milkweed
- Climate change – hot dry spring seasons in the south and plant bloom timing disconnected with the migration
While this red list label is extremely concerning, scientists hope that the new classification will benefit the world’s beloved monarch by promoting awareness and inspiring action on a global and local level.
In late September, Rockaway experiences a snippet of the ancient butterfly migration on our coastline. This event is designated as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. We are so fortunate! Therefore, we should feel obligated to ensure this gift from nature continues.
What can we do on an individual and community level to protect the monarch butterfly species?
To answer this question, The Beach 91st Street Community Garden (@beach91communitygarden) contacted Don Riepe, The Jamaica Bay Guardian. Riepe has over 25 years of experience as a naturalist and National Parks manager. The nature defender met members at the garden last Saturday to discuss the monarch butterflies habitat, migration, life cycle and feeding.
“The current migration trend in Rockaway has shifted.” Don began. We learned, the majority of monarchs pass through the first week of October, later than in years past. This could be caused by climate changes related to our hurricane season. Don pointed out that the seaside goldenrod planted by NYC Parks is very important and we need to preserve the dunes for this reason along with our concerns of beach erosion. Goldenrod provides nectar, which is converted into energy for the monarch’s impressive 2,500 mile journey to and from Mexico. Along with goldenrod, other energy suppliers are: echinacea, butterfly bush, walker’s low, agastache, aster, sunflowers, zinnias, petunia f, and cosmos.
Don reminded garden members that it is critical for us to plant native milkweed (avoid tropical varieties). After monarchs leave their overwintering grounds – only a few 100 hectares of forest in Central Mexico – they begin to lay eggs on milkweed during their migration north throughout the U.S. Milkweed is the only plant monarchs lay their eggs on and the hatched caterpillars feed on.
“Weed” is a misnomer. This plant is a perennial beauty displaying either white, pink, bright yellow, or orange flowers in mid-late summer. The structure of the flora is intricate and stunning. Please consider planting milkweed in your home garden or in community gardens throughout the peninsula.
Take it a step further and build an attractive pollinator garden. You can start this fall by ditching your hard-to-maintain lawn and building out a new garden design. In the spring, fill it with a lush feeding ground of flowers for monarchs, bees, other beneficial insects, and birds.
To learn more about pollinators and their vital role in supporting a healthy ecosystem, attend The 5th Annual Jamaica Bay Monarch and Pollinator Festival on Saturday, September 24, 10am-1pm at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. This event is presented by the American Littoral Society, with NYC Audubon, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, and Gateway National Recreation Area. Location:
Celebrate pollinators like Monarch butterflies, moths, bees, and birds. Learn from experts and naturalists including Don Riepe and enjoy activities for the whole family. More details to come! Find upcoming info on Instagram- @jamaicabayguardian. And visit littoralsociety.org to register.
by Paula D.
on September 14, 2022 10:10 am in Food
By Matt Johnson
Everyone has that weird obsession that not many other people grok, and mine is bodysurfing. I’ve been doing it for so long that I don’t even remember learning how, but I spent my summers sliding solo until the day I saw a half-dozen torsoless heads (board surfers have torsos) bobbing well past the end of the groin at 84th Street. I’d finally met my people: the Rockaway Beach Bodysurf Underground.
I started to cry, but who could tell, what with the surf breaking over our heads and the snot streaming out of our noses? Then they told me about the contest: a hundred bodysurfers all on the same break at once? Were there even that many other bodysurfers in the world? Turns out there are at least that many in the tri-state, with some pros traveling from as far as California to ride our punky little swells. Fortunately, even when conditions are crap, you can almost always womp one or two.
The athletic prowess and flair in the water are the contest-day headliners, for sure, but the onshore talk story is how friends get made. Thinking about new swim fins? Here, try these on for size. Sure, take my hand plane out for a bit and see how it feels. Did you know you can repair neoprene with a sewing needle, dental floss, and gasket adhesive? Remember the full moon when the skimmers were gliding just over our heads? Remember the time the backwash knocked her off that wave and she did a cartwheel in the air? Yeah, that was wild.
The beauty of sharing something so niche and so goofy is that there is zero ego in it. There are no bodysurf schools, so the stoke can only be passed from hand to hand. There are no luxury bodysurfing lifestyle accessories, except maybe that sick paipo your neighbor made in his garage last winter. Everyone is just plain thrilled that we found each other.
My friend Josh once said, “I love doing surfing wrong.” Josh rides a board, but there may be no more wrong way to surf than without one. And I love it, too.
Please Join Matt and the community of bodysurfers at the 6th Annual Rockaway Beach Bodysurf Contest, tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 10th in front of Rippers (Beach 84th street) on the sand. The event begins at 10 a.m. and goes throughout the day. Come early to get a good spot on the beach for viewing. Watching these talented bodysurfers glide on the waves is a beautiful thing. I’ll be at the tent selling swag. Come say hi and support this awesome sporting event by purchasing a shirt or hat!
This contest is organized by the Rockaway Beach Bodysurf Underground – Mike Poindexter, Clare Hilger, Jeremy Jones, and their many surfer friends who volunteer to make this day rad as hell! Follow @rbbunderground on instagram and tag your favorite bodysurfers at tomorrow’s contest.
For more on community happenings follow me on the beach – @theglorifiedtomato.
The soil is the canvas. The hues of flowers are the paint. The texture of leaves and branches are the brushes. A garden is a painting. Some paintings are completed in a day, some in a year or many years. A garden is ever-changing and its picture is never finished.
Each garden I pass on the street speaks to the individuality of the gardener and their personal creative expression. These living canvases, small or large, are intended to be seen by passersby, to call forth reaction or to showcase beauty.
This past spring I introduced my friend Teresa to my passion for gardening. She wanted in! And so, I’ve been teaching her about annuals vs. perennials, weeds, soil types, compost, insects, watering, sun, shade… you name it. Sharing what I know with her has been a great joy for me. She’s dedicated so much time to transforming her large overgrown front yard into a productive garden. Organically as an artist, Teresa began to create sculptural pieces within her garden. Unbeknownst to me, she knew exactly where this was headed.
Long Distance Winner by Teresa Farrell
Tomorrow, Saturday, September 3rd, you’re invited to enter a three-dimensional garden painting pervaded with sculptural works by Teresa Farrell. This event is a free experience. All artworks are for sale. Electronic music performances by Aua de Gio and Magic Sandwich. The art show will be held from 3:11 p.m. to 7 p.m., located at Beach 97th Street and Rockaway Beach Blvd.
What to expect: The sculptures presented in this show are strategically integrated into the garden canvas. Living plants are meshed with found objects, paint, plaster, and other mediums. Original drawings, paintings, and wearable underwear will also be on display and for purchase.
For this exhibit, I’ve had the unique opportunity to witness Teresa’s art grow throughout the summer. My subjective feeling of the work is as such: The sculptures are reflective of physical and conscious changes in oneself. The art is unleashing bold. The sculptures peel away pretty and provoke the viewer to contemplate rawness. Truth is hard to look at. Perhaps that’s why Teresa’s work is soaked with comedy. The observer can dig as far as they’re mentally capable of – keep the perspective prudently comedic or allow yourself to shovel to the roots.
Teresa Farrell’s work has been showcased in galleries throughout the United States, London, and Switzerland. Closer to home, here in Rockaway, you may recall The Lot shows – a joint gallery/studio walkthrough space where music jams were held throughout the summer of 2021. Farrell is a Brooklyn native with Rockaway ties since childhood. She now lives on the peninsula full time pulling inspiration from your trash can and the temper of the sea.
Follow Teresa Farrell on Instagram – @tuh_nesta for a preview of what to expect tomorrow in the garden.
Join animal lovers throughout the peninsula for ANIMAL ROCK 2022. This always anticipated event is an expression and celebration of the love that humans and animals share. Expect information on ways to support animals, pick up a raffle to win prizes from local businesses, begin your pet adoptions process, bring your beloved animal for a special blessing, enjoy vegan food offerings from Mara’s Ice Cream and Thai Rock and much animal inspired merriment!
This celebration will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 10:00 am to 4:00pm at Beach 94 Street and Shore Front Parkway on the Boardwalk.
Here are the specifics on participates as of now:
- Rev. Dr. Eleni Marudis, Interfaith Chaplain, and her beloved fur baby, Taco Bella, will be blessing animals at the event.
- Noah’s Ark rescues, vets, fosters, and finds homes for kittens and cats.The group will be bringing some of their adorable animals in need of loving homes.
- PALS (People & Animals Living Safely) provides a safe, secure place for domestic violence victims and their pets to heal together.
- American Littoral Society promotes the study and conservation of marine life and habitat, protects the coast and empowers others to do the same.
- Connor’s Canine Cookies was inspired by 12-year-old Connor Quinn Rodriguez’s love for his two dogs, Max and Scoob. He bakes his treats with love and an extra chromosome.
- Peta literature that describes ways to help animals and introduces the concept of “speciesism.” Speciesism demonstrates how bigotry begins when categories such as race, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or species are used to justify discrimination.
- NY Marine Rescue Center information on their stranded marine life hotline, programs, and volunteer opportunities to support sick or injured seals, sea turtles, dolphins, porpoises, and small-toothed whales.
- Raffle Prizes include: animal communication & animal/nature inspired coaching sessions, pet nutritional products and accessories, pet portraits, dog training services, jewelry and t-shirts, gift basket, books of animal inspiration. These gifts have been generously donated by the following organizations: Jill Lauri, Animal Communication, ZipZyme Omega, ANP/Animal Nutritional Products, Spleash, MyOneLeash, Life On My Canvas, DogLogic Dog Training, Peta, Connor’s Canine Cookies and Animal And Nature Connect.
- A big thanks to Rockaway Graphics for donating printing of literature for the event and to Key Food for donating water for the event.
Jill Lauri is an Animal Communicator and Coach. She communicates telepathically with all species and those who have passed on. She coaches animal lovers and pet professionals on loss and transformation. Inspired by the animal kingdom, she advocates for animals and the passage of animal-friendly laws. Her mission is to be a voice for nonhuman animals and create a world where they are treated with respect, love, and compassion.
Contact Jill Lauri volunteer or donate to this special event! Follow Jill on twitter and Instagram – @healingwithanimals for more details on ANIMAL ROCK 2022.
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I had a very special experience with Jill when my cat Lefty went missing. Her guidance and communication with Lefty eased my worry and reassured me that Lefty would be back. Read about it here.
