Heart of the Gila is dedicated to increasing and protecting pollinator habitat, educating the public about the importance of native plants, and training and maintaining a team of citizen scientists monitoring Monarch Butterfly populations and migration patterns in Southwest, New Mexico.
The Children’s Butterfly Garden at Silva Creek Botanical Garden in Silver City, New Mexico is the site of many educational activities and butterfly encounters. The garden, in the shape of butterfly and featuring local tile work, was planted and is maintained by children in celebration of the lives of Ella Kirk, Michael Mahl and Ella Myers, and their love of beauty.
Butterfly Way is a habitat restoration project along the riverine corridor of the Gila River, in Southwestern New Mexico, promoting an increase in the diversity of native plant hosts for butterflies, birds, bees and other pollinators. Our objectives are to create lasting beauty by increasing floral and faunal diversity, improving critical habitat for sustaining Monarch butterfly populations and providing a place for research and study of the role of pollinators and their native plant hosts. Butterfly Way is located at The Nature Conservancy’s,Gila River Farm in Cliff, New Mexico and was created to honor Ella, Ella, and Michael, their love of the Gila River and their life of service. Many hours of volunteer watering, weeding, planting, and seeding have been dedicated to Butterfly Way since its inception in 2015.
Please consider becoming a “Butterfly Benefactor” and donating to our efforts to raise awareness of the intrinsic ecological value and beauty of butterflies.