Greetings ARDOT,

I am a biology major at the [university]. I conduct ornithology research under a veteran ornithologist and plan to lead my own research into the same honey bees I raise as a beekeeper. I am often in the company of other biologists, entomologists, and citizen scientists alike. Its a bleak picture they paint on this new researcher getting ready to break into the field and I understand but my young blood sees Arkansas, self proclaimed Natural State, as the perfect place to revitalize the science community's morale. I communicate with others nationwide on similar topics and they're losing hope but it can be revived with a well earned victory.

I frequent [hwy] that allows people to directly travel to [city]. It is not an extraordinary road to the untrained eye. Grass, pine trees, straight lines painted onto asphalt. Now what I see are wash outs in the sides. I'm sure ARDOT has noticed too, as there are several patches of boulders that likely are made to break up the heavy flow of water. I see thick patches of pine saplings and grassy weeds allowed to stand, perhaps to use their roots to hold soils. There are bound to be other places like this on state owned properties but there are more beneficial ways stop the erosion, promote tourism and wildlife, while providing year round color for travelers.

Unfortunately, the iconic Monarch Butterfly is slated to disappear very soon. About 15% of the total population declines annually1. Due to their toxicity to birds, it does not seem as though they are being preyed upon excessively. Many sources attribute the sharp and rapid decline to pesticides2,3. Not poisoning the butterfly directly but poisoning their food and homes into non-existence. Better herbicides have removed a large portion of their breeding grounds on milkweeds (Asclepias sp.). They simply cannot find anywhere to put their eggs as they only breed on Ascelpias. Luckily, Asclepias syriaca, "Common Milkweed", has a deep taproot with more fibrous lateral branches that are ideal for holding the soil 4,5. Most other milkweed will be similar in ability but Asclepias syriaca has not only large bulbs of flowers that are attractive to pollinators of all kinds, it has larger leaves that would sustain many a monarch caterpillar in a meadow. A. syriaca would also pair well with the vibrant orange of A. tuberosa, also known as butterflyweed. It's leaves are not as suitable but a myriad of color attracts tourists from all over the nation seeking a scenic route to and from their destinations. Should there be any doubt, see the crowds who flock to Texas in spring to take pictures among the oceans of Bluebonnets, hundreds of acres, lining the highways with colors. It's so highly attractive and in this selfie era, we are missing a great opportunity to have Arkansas as a vacation destination for those who do not live here.

Pollinators would not be the only to benefit from the meadow [hwy] can be. Insects of all kinds will take advantage of the new shelter. These roadside flowers become their own ecosystem that allow it's inhabitants to reproduce. The offspring disperse away from the meadow and go on to breed in lakes that feed fish and birds of all kinds from large mouth bass to weary migrating waterfowl the Arkansas hunters and fishers prize. Songbirds also rely on good insect hauls during breeding season to produce healthy eggs and rear strong fledglings. What I propose is a selection of wildflowers and blooming trees that not only benefit pollinators, but also can attract tourists looking for the ideal pictures.

Milkweed is ideal for the wash outs with it's long and branching roots. A. syriaca is the most versatile but there are others with varying needs and colors from white, to orange, to purple, to even green. Golden Alexanders (Zizia auera) are early blooming yellow flowers who host the beautifully contrasting Black Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio polyxenes). These would look nice beside Ohio Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) who bloom a dark blue in May. Pairing with the summertime milkweeds, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a meadow favorite. Butterflies and bees of all kinds adore the easily accessed disk and when the flower heads shrivel up, birds love the seeds. It'd do well with Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) that can also be purple or even vibrant red which is very attractive to hummingbirds. This all around flower is also known as Bee Balm as bees love the nectar heavy flowers as do all the other pollinators. To finish up the year, Sky Blue Asters (Symphyotruchum oolentangiense) and Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) provide dense color. Let it be known that because it is insect pollinated, Goldenrods do not cause hay fever like the wind pollinated Ragweed but they are an extremely important bee plant. Goldenrod comprises right near the entirety of winter storage honey in beehives. Without it, we beekeepers would be in trouble. It feeds a wide variety of pollinators before winter shutdowns or migrations, it deserves a place in every meadow even if it must be the slopes that dip down out of public view.

We can take it farther by having a single row of trees pushed back from the road as to not litter the highway with debris in case of storms. An alternation on each row of a pink Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Chaste (Vitex agnus-castus) and Crepemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). Perhaps even a Maple (Acraceae sp.) to turn vivid red in fall with the dusty blue of the Sky Blue Aster. With Cream Wild Indigo (Baptisia bracteata) and St. John's Wort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs between each tree, it'll be a landscape worth traveling hundreds of miles for just like tourists already do for Texas Bluebonnets. While some are not native, I have witnessed insects taking advantage of the blooms or believe they offer good color for their seasons. None of these plants' fruit are attractive to deer and several are specifically listed as deer resistant with saps and compounds specifically created to cause gastric upset in mammals, it will be attractive for bugs and for view but not for road hazards. For now, beekeepers and biologists alike would rejoice in just hearing if the flowers and shrubs alone were planted, trees can wait.

I do hope ARDOT sees the value in native wildflowers. Not only can they hang onto several layers of soil but they are more attractive to travelers than plain grey rocks and grass or pines. My own portion of [diff hwy] I commute on, sees a massive bloom of yellow flowers in June-July and I know the state has done wildflower plantings before. My bees start bringing in a constant and heavy supply of red pollen around this time of mass yellow flower bloom. They obviously profit from the extra help much to my delight. Now if the shoulders were always drenched in vibrant colors, I wonder if we could rival Texas' one time bluebonnets. [hwy] is the only highway I've noticed but there thousands of miles under state control for highways. There is most definitely other areas that could be used to benefit Arkansas wildlife. I specifically like [hwy] from [town] to [city] as it's not near many row crops and well protected by the pine plantations nearby from any possible drift. It is a big project to consider and if there is any appeal in it at all, I will gladly assist in searching for labor, funding and supplies. The biggest issue would be getting the state to protect them until late winter when they all go dormant and are able to be mowed.

I know Arkansas prides itself as being the Natural State but wildlife biologists do not see it that way. We can give them hope again by dedicating unproductive lands, who offer little protection to the roads by eroding, into invertebrate sanctuaries and see the benefits of that ripple through the ecosystem from birds eating coneflower seeds and bugs to fish fattening on extra larvae for the lucky Arkansan who catches them.

Thank you for consideration,

[first & last name]

Works Cited

1. Mizejewski, David. "Monarch Butterfly 2018 Population Down by 14.8%" National Wildlife Federation Blog. https://blog.nwf.org/2018/03/monarch-butterfly-2018-population-down-by-14-8-percent/ Accessed 16 February 2019.

2. Connif, Richard. "Tracking the Causes of Sharp Decline of the Monarch Butterfly" Yale Environment 360. https://e360.yale.edu/features/tracking_the_causes_of_sharp__decline_of_the_monarch_butterfly Accessed 16 February 2019

3. Semmens, B. X. et al. Quasi-extinction risk and population targets for the Eastern, migratory population of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). Sci. Rep. 6, 23265; doi: 10.1038/srep23265 (2016)

4. "Keeping Milkweed Over the Winter." Found, Butterfly Gardening, 18 February 2019, butterflygardening.wordpress.com.