Magazine for the professional nail industry.
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178 | NAILS MAGAZINE | JULY 2016 } { my other life "I love my babies and I learn from them every day — about life, love, and survival," says Los Angeles-based nail tech Triana Ramirez. The babies she's referring to are monarch butterfies. For the past two years, Ramirez has come to the aid of these delicate orange and black creatures, as their food source, the milkweed plant, has grown scarce. "In recent years wildfres have destroyed a lot of milkweed plants," she says. "Also, people remove milkweed from their gardens because they think it's just another weed. In fact, it's the only plant monarchs eat." Ramirez grows milkweed in her yard and when a monarch lays its eggs in the plant, she collects them and brings them indoors so other animals won't eat them. Once the eggs hatch, she feeds and cares for the tiny caterpillars. "I also talk to them and give them love — lots of love," she says. Over the course of a few weeks, the caterpillar changes its skin fve times. Then the caterpillar stops feeding and searches for a good spot to continue its metamorphosis. "It attaches itself securely to a horizontal surface and hangs down in a 'J' position. Then it molts into an opaque, light green chrysalis with small beautiful gold dots around it," she explains. "The cuticle of the chrysalis becomes transparent and the monarch's characteristic orange and black wings become visible. Finally, the adult emerges, expanding and drying its wings." The whole process takes 25 days to a month. Ramirez shares her hobby with her 5-year-old son. "He knows all about monarchs and their important role in nature. His favorite part of the process is asking friends to help release the butterfies at the end," she says. "These delicate insects teach us an important lesson: Life is a process and sometimes you have to sufer through changes to reach your dreams and fy. So keep living your life with purpose, focus on your goals, and continue to see yourself as a beautiful butterfy." Queen of the Monarchs NAILS (ISSN 0896-193x) (USPS 001-426) is published monthly, by Bobit Business Media, 3520 Challenger Street, Torrance, California 90503-1640. Periodicals postage paid at Torrance, California 90503-9998 and additional mailing ofces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Nails, P.O. Box 1067 Skokie, IL 60076-8068. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for address changes to take efect. Subscription Prices - United States $20 per year; Canada $57 per year; Foreign $87 per year. Single copy price - $5; Big Book - $40. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks to receive your frst issue. Bobit Business Media reserves the right to refuse non-qualifed subscriptions. Please address Editorial and Advertising correspondence to the Executive Ofces at 3520 Challenger Street Torrance, California 90503-1640 or online at www.nailsmag.com. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without consent of Bobit Business Media. All statements made, although based on information believed to be reliable and accurate, cannot be guaranteed and no fault or liability can be accepted for error or omission. Subscribers: If the Post Ofce alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within 2 years. Triana Ramirez, nail tech In her other life: monarch butterf ly enthusiast "People remove milkweed from their gardens because they think it's just another weed. In fact, it's the only plant monarchs eat."