Not so Natural State

I read with interest Bill Bowden’s recent article, “Monarchs giving state a wide berth.” The article concerned the declining numbers of Monarch butterflies, due in large part to the destruction of the milkweed that they depend on to lay their eggs and feed their caterpillars. It seems as if our very own Arkansas Department of Transportation is a culprit in this decline, since it mows down milkweed along the shoulders of our highways.

Unfortunately, that ain’t the half of it. Our highway department has become increasingly herbicide-happy. I note that more and more roadsides every year are a dead brown strip of biological desert. For example: Travelers on Arkansas 171, the most direct route from Interstate 30 to get to Hot Springs and our world-famous Garvan Woodland Gardens, must first endure 15 miles or so of dead wildflowers.

We may call ourselves the Natural State all we want, but our actions would indicate otherwise.

CONNIE MESKIMEN Hot Springs National Park