This original musical and dramatic work premiered at RIPE AREA:
The Art of Native Plants Festival, American River Conservancy,
Wakamatsu Farm, Placerville, CA, September 2025.
In the song, Monarch, lyrics and concept created by Ameera Godwin and music composed by Paul Godwin, Paul sings and brings to life the Monarch butterfly in love with Milkweed. These symbiotic creatures appear in Scene Four of The Botanist: A Plant-based Song Cycle. Entitled, "Restoration (A Love Story)", this scene depicts a monarch butterfly and a milkweed plant—two native species that have struggled to survive—finally finding each other again. Their meeting hints at a hopeful comeback, thanks to recent efforts to replant milkweed and protect monarch habitat in the California foothills.
Historically, milkweed was seen as a threat: it’s poisonous to grazing animals, so early European settlers tried hard to wipe it out to protect their livestock. Now, we understand that milkweed is essential for monarchs, and restoring it is helping bring this fragile relationship back to life.
The Myrtle Tree Arts performance premiered as part of the RIPE AREA: The Art of Native Plants Festival, taking place on September 21, 2025 at American River Conservancy's Wakamatsu Farm, Placerville, CA.
Concept/Libretto: Ameera Godwin
Music Composition/Direction and Performance: Paul Godwin
Choreography & Dance Performance: Ameera Godwin, Rebecca Wilson, and Chris Sircello
Video: Jameson Randall, Dynasty Video
Produced and Created by Myrtle Tree Arts (myrtletreearts.com) All Rights Reserved.