Hello, my name is Kym Martin, and I’m a native of the Chattanooga area. My love for monarch butterflies and gardening comes from my grandfather. When I visited him, he would proudly show me his latest plants and tell me about the monarchs that visited him every year. I’ve carried on his legacy of nurturing native plants and butterflies, and when he passed, I named my greenhouse “Charlie” in his honor. Everything good that comes out of the greenhouse is thanks to him.

 

For over 7 years, I have been committed to monarch butterfly conservation through education, habitat support and restoration, community science, and the tagging and tracking of monarch migrations. My goal is to establish a monarch conservation organization in Chattanooga. My mission centers on Conservation, Education, and my Passion for these Magical Little Creatures called Monarchs. I hope you enjoy the website and use it to learn more about monarchs. Your interest and efforts can make a significant difference in their conservation.

 

My pursuit of education led me to the Master Gardeners of Hamilton County. I became a Master Gardener in 2022, and I have been deeply involved in the program ever since. In 2023, I served on the Board of Directors as Secretary and was a member of the educational Grow Team for the Master Gardener Intern Classes. Additionally, I sponsor and manage a Magical Monarch booth at annual Master Gardener events.

 

Beyond the Master Gardeners of Hamilton County, I am actively involved in various nature and conservation clubs in the Chattanooga area. I serve as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association and recently designed and programmed their website. Last year, I earned my Pollinator Steward Certification from the Pollinator Partnership.

 

I am also a member of the Tennessee Valley Wild Ones, where I am taking classes to earn my Certificate in Native Plants. I serve on the Wild for Monarchs Committee, which is sponsored by a grant from the Monarch Joint Venture. Additionally, I participate in multiple community science projects focused on researching monarch health and conservation.

 

Monarchs are not my only passion. I am devoted to my husband and four dogs, and we enjoy spending time together in the backyard, gazing at the butterfly garden and watching for new little visitors. I’m also an avid Harry Potter fan and we are planning a trip to London to see the magical sights. When I’m not working on habitat restoration, I design and program websites and hold a full-time job as a Software Architect at The Company That Shall Not Be Named.