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| West Virginia white butterfly © Pierre Howard |
When Lucien Harris Jr. wrote Butterflies of Georgia in 1972, he called the West Virginia white butterfly "rare,” noting that it had “eluded collectors until recent years.”
On March 26, 1961, the first of this magnificent species was spotted in Murray County, Ga., near what is now The Nature Conservancy’s Holly Creek Preserve.
In his book, Harris mentions only two other locations in Georgia where this species of butterfly had been seen – Rabun and Union counties in the northeast corner of the state.
Today, naturalists in Floyd County, including Nature Conservancy supporters Dr. Nelson Dobbs and Dr. Bill Harbin, have found West Virginia whites in at least four locations, including The Nature Conservancy’s Black's Bluff Preserve. One of the known host plants for West Virginia whites is toothwort, which blooms in April on northwest facing ridges in Floyd County.
During a recent outing at Lavender Mountain in Floyd County, I was able to forever capture the elusive beauty of the West Virginia white on camera as several fluttered amid blooming toothwort. Witnessing this display of nature, I am proud to be part of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia, which provides habitat for this uncommon species. 
The image of this elusive butterfly is a potent reminder of our mission and gives true meaning to our conservation work and our fundraising activities. Of course, the West Virginia white is only one species that we protect.
There is a great story of an old man who came upon a young boy on a beach one morning. The low tide had left thousands of starfish stranded and dying on the sand. The boy was picking them up, one by one, and throwing them as far into the sea as he could. The old man said to the boy, “You're wasting your time with those starfish. Can't you see how many there are? You will never save them all." The boy picked up another starfish and heaved it into the sea. Turning toward the old man he said, “Maybe not, but I saved that one!”
The Nature Conservancy saves species just like the young boy in the story – one at a time. We work with partners who share our vision for protecting the native wildlife and natural areas in Georgia, while safeguarding our traditions and values. Our supporters, our friends, our partners, our volunteers and our staff are the backbone of our success. We are all privileged to be a part of protecting Georgia for generations to come.
Best,
Pierre Howard
Past Chairman, Board of Trustees
The Nature Conservancy in Georgia
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