Butterfly Garden

One of my favorite parts of working in the Park and with the educational programs is the people I meet.  The people in the Erie area are just spectacular!  Park visitors have a true love of being outside and a genuine respect for what is happening around them on a daily basis.  This year I had the opportunity to work with Belle Valley Junior Girl Scout troop 30587.

We met in early winter and worked on various badge requirements such as gardening and soils.  I also had the opportunity to take them for a hike in mid-winter, immediately following a heavy snow.  The day was crystal clear and approximately 11 degrees (!), but we were all bundled and prepared.  The hike began slowly, just appreciating the season.  As we moved down the trail, we picked up speed and began to try and run through the knee-deep fluff.  At our destination, we all promptly flopped on our backs in drifts to catch our breath.  We were silent for a few moments, just watching the clouds and being there.

 

On the hike back, one girl said "I really liked laying in the snow.  It was so calm."

That's what we aim for - being in the moment in nature.

The girls began work on their Bronze Award as a troop this spring and chose to do a project at Headwaters Park.  We were delighted!  They chose to create a butterfly garden as an addition to our Community Learning Garden.  Through many weeks of planning, choosing flowers, and actually creating and filling the bed, the project is complete.

The girls, their parents, and their leader put numerous hours and effort into this commitment.  We now have a newborn butterfly garden, complete with annuals, perennials, and puddling rocks.

Blanket Flower

What is a puddling rock?  Butterflies need water too, and also need the minerals that the rock/sand/muddy puddles offer. So, a rock with a shallow depression to hold water works pretty well for them.

Puddling rock - in need of a little water:)

Along with the blanket flowers, the girls also planted monarda (bee balm), Joe Pye Weed, a Butterfly Bush (buddleia), marigolds, and milkweed, among other species.

Milkweed - traditional Monarch food and home for chrysallis'

We welcome visitors - enjoy what the troop has created for everyone!  I hope to post pictures of butterfly visitors soon!