An old tree on Ogden Avenue in the Jersey City Heights section has become a new home for butterflies.
Not real ones, but those made out of beads, out of wood – and even out of old speaker wire and computer parts.
So far, area residents have placed over 30 butterflies on the tree that sits in front of Ogden Avenue resident Yvonne Thevenot’s home. The tree was dedicated by her last year to her daughter, Helene, who passed away in 2005 for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Thevenot lives in the house with her husband and her 7-year-old son.
“I am impressed by the outpouring of love from the people in this area, and what they have created,” Thevenot said. “I think people responded because it reminded them of their youth, either catching butterflies or doing arts and crafts, and the fun they had doing so.”
“The tree has become a conversation piece and a meeting place whenever people pass by.” – Yvonne Thevenot
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As a bonus, Thevenot held a contest in which the public could vote for a favorite butterfly. The winner, announced on May 30, was 8-year-old Sarah Adegbite.
She won a personal chef to prepare meals for her family for a day. Thevenot said the prize will come in handy for young Sarah’s family as her mother, Dr. Nichelle Adegbite-Maravantano, gave birth this month to a baby boy, Michael Xavier Maravantano.
The butterfly effect
A scientific theory called “the butterfly effect” postulates that something as simple as the flutter of a butterfly’s wings can have a major impact on a larger system such as the weather in another location far away.
Thevenot said that asking her neighbors if they wanted to take part in the project led to a colorful, wonderful endeavor.
Thevenot also said that pedestrians used to dump their garbage on the tree, but do not do so anymore.
“The tree has become a conversation piece and a meeting place whenever people pass by,” Thevenot said.
Thevenot recalls a poignant moment recently when a 3-year-old girl was walking with her mother past the tree and started calling out, “Nana.” Thevenot learned the young girl was referring to her great-grandmother who had instilled in her a love of butterflies before passing away. This was evident from the butterfly images on the girl’s clothing and her stroller.
“I told her mother that the tree could also be a place to remember her great-grandmother,” Thevenot said.
People can still make butterflies to decorate the tree until summer’s end. Thevenot also invites people to help decorate her “ugly” butterfly, the aforementioned creation of old speaker wire and computer parts.
For more information, call Yvonne Thevenot at (201) 978-9500 or just stop by the tree.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.