Blending Science, Art and Passion
Susie has spoken on monarch butterflies for over 9 years, both live and virtual, at innumerable garden clubs, botanic gardens, expos, events, nurseries, and schools. She has been a professional speaker on a variety of subjects for 25 years, earning the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association and inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame.
She has raised hundreds of monarch butterflies in her garden since April 2010 and loves to speak, write, photograph, videotape, and create wonderful presentations and products all about monarch butterflies! Susie is a Monarch Citizen Scientist providing observations from the field to Monarch Health at University of Georgia, and she is a Monarch Conservation Specialist for Monarch Watch, a premiere monarch research organization, helping to bring the awe and wonder of monarchs to the public. She stays regularly informed by Xerces, Monarch Watch, Monarch Health, Western Monarch Advocates, and Monarch Joint Venture, with current information on what is the impact of the O.e. Parasite on monarch butterfly populations, both eastern and western. It is a critical topic because it influences the planting of butterfly/pollinator gardens and the hope for recovery of the severely declining monarch butterfly population.
Susie is author of an award-winning children’s photo storybook and 10-minute action video on monarch life cycle, The Story of Chester, The Monarch Caterpillar/Larva (www.tinyurl.com/MonarchProducts ) as well as having a gorgeous photo greeting card line of butterflies, flowers, and the whimsy of life (www.svgreetingcards.com )
Susie is also an avid gardener and loves sharing all about monarch butterflies with garden clubs, at garden events/expos, botanic gardens, nurseries, schools and community events.
In her program, both virtual and live, she uses an entertaining, mesmerizing and educational PowerPoint program infused with stunning anecdotal videos and beautiful photos from her years raising monarchs in her garden. She covers important science in a most engaging format, including:
- Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle
- Migration
- Milkweed and Nectar Plant
- Butterfly Gardening
- Population Decline Concerns
- How we can all Help Save Monarchs
Susie’s blog: www.tinyurl.com/AllAboutMonarchs
Facebook page: @MonarchButterflySpeaker
