Over the course of several weeks, a rundown public Venice lot on the side of a slope was transformed into a garden. Wooden steps and a brick walkway were put in to allow easier access to the canals, a welcome relief from sliding down the mud in wet weather. Then flowers started to bloom.

Closer examination showed a sign describing the park on the east side of Pacific Avenue at 29th Avenue as a monarch butterfly sanctuary to feed them and offer them a place to rest and breed on their annual 3,000 mile migration to Mexico. There are dozens of milkweed plants, vital nourishment for Monarch larvae. Monarchs have seen their numbers drop precipitously of late due to habitat loss and pesticide use.

Despite half a dozen attempts by this columnist to find and interview the people responsible for this bright spot in our landscape, nobody has gotten back to me taking credit for this vest pocket park that all of us can now enjoy

Instead I offer this toast, to the unsung laborers who invested time and money to nourish and care for some of the littlest and most vulnerable creatures among us.