Shelby Township resident and International Academy of Macomb sophomore Nethanya Fonseka said reading a popular children’s book a couple of years ago changed her life trajectory. “I wanted to be a doctor for decades and then I read The Lorax and I felt a calling,” said Fonseka. “I read it and it basically changed my life.
” The theme of Dr. Suess’ book is the danger human destruction poses to the natural environment. Fonseka was so struck by the book’s message she shifted her attention from medicine to biodiversity.
She created the Plant it Forward organization whose mission is to foster tree planting and the creation of greenspace and habitat for pollinators. Last week, Fonseka and several of her classmates spent the better part of a day planting trees, bushes and plants to create a hummingbird habitat at Pitchford Park on Romeo Plank Road in Macomb. There will be an official opening for the hummingbird and pollinator garden on June 9 at 10 a.
m. “We planted on some really rough soil – it was like clay – but we managed to get all of our plants in and they are all great for hummingbirds and pollinators,” said Fonseka. “This is good work and it is so rewarding.
“After we were done yesterday, we stood back and looked at it and just imagined what it is going to look like with all of the bees and butterflies and hummingbirds around.” Fonseka shows her enthusiasm for pollinators even through her attire. On Saturday she was wearing a T-shirt adorned with bu.
