Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Hearts will flutter and spirits will soar with the debut of the Hood County Library's latest sculpture depicting the life cycle of a monarch butterfly.
The sculpture — titled “Life Cycle,” — was generously donated by the Lake Granbury Master Gardeners as a way to bring life to the library’s front flower beds.
Library Director Jennifer Logsdon explained to the Hood County Commissioners Court Oct. 22 that she initially contacted the master gardeners for assistance in revitalizing the area, as the library’s flower beds were “looking really sad.”
"When I went to talk to them about it, they said, ‘Hey, we also have this sculpture that we need a place for. This might be a good partnership,’ and I'm like, ‘Sounds like a good plan to me,’” Logsdon said. “They needed a place to put this where it's going to be visible to the community, and the library was a perfect educational place to put that. We'll also design the flower bed around the sculpture, so it's a win/win for both of us.”
With the sculpture standing at 6 feet tall and featuring intricate, three-dimensional elements, viewers will be invited to explore the fascinating journey of monarchs.
Lake Granbury Master Gardeners member Deborah Rollins — also known as the “butterfly lady,” — explained that the organization has been working for about three years to create an art sculpture that it could donate to the city.
She emphasized that the sculpture aims to celebrate the community's status as a favorite destination for migrating monarch butterflies, while also serving as a teaching tool about the butterfly's life cycle.
"We're looking at a timeline of approximately spring of 2025 to put the garden in all around this ‘Life Cycle’ sculpture, which will be for pollinators,” she said. “So, we'll have butterflies — my favorite thing — flying around the door of the library and all around this garden."
Rollins added that the sculpture will be positioned on a 5-foot-by-5-foot concrete pad at the ramp leading to the parking lot, and will measure 36 inches in diameter.
“It's very interactive. It's three dimensional, and there'll be a sign that’s descriptive, so kids and adults alike can learn about the life cycle of monarch butterflies and how that applies to us in our community, for life, hope and continuity,” she said. “This is what we do. We're a teaching entity within the county.”
“Finally, something to brighten my day,” Hood County Judge Ron Massingill said.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Jack Wilson made a motion to accept the donation and placement of the metal art sculpture from the Lake Granbury Master Gardeners to the Hood County Library. Following a second from Precinct 2 Commissioner Nannette Samuelson, the motion passed unanimously.
A grand opening of both the garden and sculpture will be held at a later date.
