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Glynn Archer Elementary School
Sam Trophia and George Fernandez
Cherre Marchak and Sue Sullivan
These renowned gardens, which have become a regular mention
by the tour guides on the local Conch Tour Trains, continue to be a
source of pride and joy among not only the board of the Foundation,
but of everyone in Key West. Over the past few years, volunteers from
the board, along with others from the community, have assisted with
pruning, replanting, and re-mulching the beautiful gardens. The
Foundation understands that a garden must be maintained and tended
in order for its beauty and function, both as a habitat for butterflies and
a visual source of enjoyment for us humans, be longlasting.
Board Members Cherre Marchak and Master  Gardener  Sue Sullivan
lend their  expertise to weekly trimmings of the ruellia and other butterfly
plants at  Glynn Archer  School  garden, one of the Foundation's premier
projects.
The Trophia Butterfly Foundation's
History of Projects
The Trophia Butterfly Foundation, over its first five years
of existence, has contributed significantly to the restoration
of butterfly habitat throughout Key West. The following
are projects with which the Foundation is very proud to
have been associated.
  1. Garden for Bahama Village Music Program and
    After-School Program
  2. Donation of Butterfly garden-related materials to
    Adopt-A-Classroom Elementary School Program
  3. Donation of funds for maintenance and plants for
    Clinton Park
  4. Donation of funds for maintenance and plants for
    the Waterfront Playhouse
  5. Garden for Key West Garden Club's West Martello
    Museum
  6. Garden for Key West Senior Citizens' Housing
    Project
  7. Garden for Glynn Archer Elementary School
  8. Garden for Key West Custom House Museum
  9. Trees planted in Bayview Park
  10. Trees planted along Whitehead Street in front of the
    Monroe County Courthouse
Founder  Sam Trophia, with the support of his family and
co-wizard partner George Fernandez, was able to realize a
childhood dream, through both The Butterfly Conservatory and the
Trophia Butterfly Foundation
Everyone who has visited the
Butterfly Conservatory on upper
Duval Street comes away from the
experience with renewed
appreciation for the inspired ideas
that creative citizens in our midst
conceive and in which they are so
willing to invest time, sweat equity
and dollars out of their own
pockets to enrich this unique
island community.
That's the thought that prompts us
to salute Sam Trophia Jr.
As it happens, Mr. Trophia
discovered his lifelong interest in
butterflies at age 9. As an adult, he
traveled the world over learning
more about these lovely creatures
because, in his words, they are so
"beautiful and mysterious."
In January 2003, he established
the Butterfly Conservatory and,
also, the Trophia Butterfly
Foundation with enthusiastic
encouragement from his partner,
George Fernandez, and an army of
friends here in Key West. His
enthusiastic leadership is also
responsible for the creation of 10
butterfly gardens at various
locations in the city. The first is in
front of Glynn Archer School; the
(current big project is) at the Key
West High School.
  
Editorial

Additional sites are planned.
Crews of eager volunteers, plus
contractors who provide services at
cost, have made these projects
possible.
The tax exempt foundation exists
to  provide a source of funding for
all of these endeavors, and
welcomes gifts from friends and
supporters in the community.
Few people know -- we certainly
did not -- that when you walk
through the conservatory, you are
in the natural habitat of 2,000
butterflies obtained from many
countries around the world. Given
that butterflies live, on average,
only about two weeks, it requires
two       shipments a week at a cost
of $100,000 a year to keep the
conservatory stocked.
"I want as many people as possible
to experience the same feeling I
had when I  discovered butterflies,"
Mr. Trophia says.  We say thanks,
Sam. You've created a splendid
community asset and you've topped
yourself with the gardens you and
your friends are establishing and
nurturing all around our city.
Editorial as it appeared in the Key West Citizen
Boyhood fascination led
to city's butterfly gardens
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