October 19th

We slept in a bit this morning. Breakfast was boiled bananas with cereal, and we ate on a rock down by the river. On the way back up to the house we picked up some trash in the backyard, and I started to get some more laundry soaking. Then I spent the morning in the reception because Erika has the day off.

Jobs: turn on radio

Turn sign around

Uncover computer and fold cloth (when I did this I found a mouse under the computer. Now he’s under the soda refridgerator)

Open register and count out 50,000 colones or $100

Sweep and mop (if dirty)

Open windows

Wipe display cases

Change lining of chrysallis case

Check in at the lab, help with anything that needs to be done there

Sew more bags

Welcome customers

Here is the Butterfly Conservatory Story:

Our project is a Rainforest Regeneration Project devoted to restoring the varied species natural to the ecosystem that naturally surrounds the Arenal Volcano. Until just 50 years ago, this area was primary rainforest, as you can see on the hills up above. That reserve is the northern side of the Monteverde Cloud Fores Reserve and the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. The big tree on the hill in front of the reception is a giant Kapok (cieba pentandra) tree; it is over 300 years old, but they can live to be more than 500 years old and grow to over 200 feet. It was left as a symbol to the rainforest, but when the rainforest was cut, the rich topsoil quickly eroded away, leaving on the acidic soil based on volcanic sand and gravel behind. So, that giant Kapok died.

A government land grant program allowed this massive forest to be cut for timber export and to create small cattle ranches. However, volcanic soil and mountain terrain isn’t suitable for cattle, and these ranchers are unproductive. The Butterfly Conservatory was conceived in 2002 by purchasing one of these cattle ranches (5 hectares, or 13 acres) to establish a Nature Demonstration Center for educating the public about methods of regenerating previously cut rainforest.

If you step over to the window you can see the progress of this regeneration. The tour offers a practical educational experience about nature with diversified exhibits of how butterflies, frogs, insects and plants are reproduced in this natural environment. The 4 atruim habitats below provide representation of the plants, trees, butterflies and frogs that live within the 4 ecological areas around Lake Arenal; in each atrium you will find the plants and butterflies that live in that particular habitat.

We also have a laboratory, reproduction greenhouses, host plant gardens, exotic frog habitat and orchid atrium. The reception center houses the insect museum. All of the insects found in the museum can be found in this area, and most have been collected while working in the gardens.

After lunch I helped Grant organize the plants between the nurseries. It was methodical work, with fertilizing, turning the dirt and weeding each pot. It appealed to the OCD side of me. We also organized the rows and swetp the tarps between the pots. After work we brought home a shovel and a rake and got started on a compost pile for the house. While we were cleaning up that part of the yard Grant uncovered a giant toad! It scared him quite a bit. When the compost pile was finished I started back on laundry duty while Kendra and Grant got to work on making 3 rows for the garden. We maed a ton of food for dinner, so we would have leftovers for a few days. Then we crashed.