New addition made to butterfly waystation in Rockville Centre

Watson Elementary students will now have a physical representation of their Monarch butterfly way station as they help ensure the long migration of Monarch butterflies from Canada to Mexico.

The school has a number of animal structures placed around the outside of the school, and when the one closest to the school’s butterfly garden needed replacement, retired principal Tom Hodge felt it was a great opportunity to add some flair to the waystation.

“It’s a ... monarch butterfly structure, mounted on a stanchion,” Hodge said. The elephant that was by our garden rotted and fell apart.”

The butterfly was made by third grade teacher Peter Gibbons and painted by Hodge.

The waystations are important to the butterflies, Hodge said, because they are filled with milkweed, which the Monarchs need to survive. The students grew milkweed plants in the classroom and planted them in the garden. Thousands of butterflies have passed through the garden since the beginning of September, Hodge said.