Springfield Butterfly House & Butterfly Festival - July 2009

15 years ago

The Friends of the Garden, the volunteer group working hard to get the Botanical Center built, are also busy building a Butterfly House in Springfield's Close Memorial Park (photos). Set to be open May 15-July 1, the House will exhibit all of Missouri's native butterflies, the plants they eat, and even a caterpillar petting area.

A Butterfly Festival at the site Saturday & Sunday, July 10-12, 2009 will feature classes in identifying butterflies, butterfly gardening, a butterfly release, a photo contest, a plant sale, and more.

Photo of Missouri's native Buckeye butterfly:

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Comments (8)

christie_sw_mo
15 years ago
Did they do that last year too? If they did, I missed it.

I'm glad you're posting all of this Violet. I forget to look sometimes and miss stuff. I need to get out my calendar and put it on there so I'll remember.
Violet_Z6
Original Author
15 years ago
No, it's new this year!

Should be an excellent exhibit.
They're putting a lot of work into it, and schools will be allowed to schedule field trips.

I'll try to keep up with posting gardening events here. I know there are some local gardening sites that post events but I have yet to see one that is comprehensive that covers all related organizations. I always wonder how people find out about things like that.

If I find time, I'd like to make another comprehensive calendar like the one I made available here years ago.
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I bought some Candy Onions too and got my free tree from MDC, a Loblolly Pine. I don't remember the Sunshine Hill booth. I wish I'd seen that. I went through pretty quickly. I just had a little time on Friday and almost didn't get to go at all. There was a place from Monett (I think) that had a big booth where Hummert's was last year on the east end. I can't remember the name but it said it was affiliated with another company in Joplin so maybe one of you will know. They had a bunch of seeds and some enormous elephant ear bulbs. Hummert's wasn't there so I assume they're still out of business but someone at another booth said they heard they're going to reopen in the spring. I wonder where. I think they need someone else to choose the location this time. I picked up a card for a place called Smiling Sun that sells native perennials. I'm looking forward to checking it out when they get their plants in this spring. They're close to the old stock yards on West Division in Springfield. They have a list on their website of the plants they're going to carry. It also says $6.99 a quart which is kinda high for my budget but maybe they'll run a sale or something. The booth for the Master Gardeners/FOG(?) had a crowd of people when I went by. Violet - I saw you but you looked pretty busy so I didn't say Hi. The big color photographs of butterflies and flowers looked great and made me anxious for the butterfly house to open. Have I mentioned that I want a sunroom? ; ) I also want a pond so I'm thinking I can just have some kind of pond/waterfall feature inside my sunroom and save money. lol That's my lottery dream. Here is a link that might be useful: Smiling Sun Native and Organic Garden Center
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Butterflies have a tendency to congregate where their host plants are, even if not laying eggs. That's why I gave an ID of the Clouded and Orange. Based on the size alone, I would strongly suggest they are Clouded Sulphurs which are smaller than the Orange, though they range in size from 1 1/2" to 2 1/2". Less likely would be Little Yellows, which range from 1" to 1 1/2". However, Alfalfa is generally not a host plant for them, but all Sulphurs use plants in the Legume family, of Fabaceae and that includes Alfalfa. Without a photo it is difficult at best to ID something that is a "yellow butterfly" because there are several yellow species. I'm just trying to narrow down according to range, size, food plant, etc., and combine those to ID a butterfly based on your description. I excluded the Little Yellow because its larval host plants are Cassias or Sennas, while the LFP for Clouded and Orange is Alfalfa or Medicago sativa, Clovers (Trifolium species), and Peas (Pisum species). Of course, there are probably a lot of native wildflowers blooming around them as well, such as fall blooming wild Asters, Goldenrods, wild native Sunflowers, such as Helianthus species, and Heleniums. I still long to be there and see them! You're a lucky guy, Jay! Laura, congratulations on your butterflies! What kind of milkweed do you grow? I may have some seed to share with you next year of a hard to find tropical milkweed called Giant Milkweed. It is a gorgeous plant and I love it for its substantial foliage that will feed a lot of hungry Monarchs. The foliage shape and habit reminds of the fiddle leaf fig plant. The leaves get very large and have a kind of greyish green color to them. New foliage is grey because it is covered with white hairs. Love this plant! I did notice you posted a few times on the Butterfly Forum and was so glad to see another Okie on the forum, so please come back, and please share your beautiful images with us. Oh, another thing, Jay, is that we've had a lot of prevailing wind from the east and that has pushed a lot of butterflies to the Western parts of Kansas and Oklahoma. Still envious, Susan
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helenh
15 years ago
I love to go to Close Garden. I will be looking forward to the butterfly house. I am almost more interested in the caterpillars and what to feed them than the butterflies themselves. I watch them on milkweed and fennel.
Rick
15 years ago
With the recent publicity that Close Memorial got at the News-Leader, I would be concerned for the butterfly house! This is a really neat attraction, and something that Springfield could use, but concerned about having it at the unsecured Close Memorial. It is a shame and very poor statement about our society pointed out in the article.
christie_sw_mo
15 years ago
Welcome Rabone! Glad you joined in. I'll put a link to the article below for others. Hope they are able to catch the people who did it. What a shame. It just ruins it for everyone. So much volunteer work and donations have gone into that park, they've been able to keep it free for the public, but when things like that happen, the expences skyrocket.

Thank you Violet. A calendar would be nice. You said, I always wonder how people find out about things like that.
Sometimes I find out when they have a story about it in the paper after it's already over. lol
We need to get some Arkansas garden events on there too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vandals leave behind a feeling of betrayal
helenh
15 years ago
That is a shame. Every time I go there I see a variety of people enjoying the park; it is a shame that a few can ruin it.
noxtra
15 years ago
If we let fear of vandalism deter us from building anything nothing would be built. Yes there has been vandalism but those issues are being addressed. The Botanical Building will soon be a reality so along with it's construction will come extra security for the park as a whole.

We have lots of volunteer opportunities to help with the house and festival. This is going to be great fun and a wonderful learning experience!!!!!

There will be another planning meeting for the Butterfly Festival Wednesday, March 4, at 5:30 p.m. in the barn classroom at Rutledge-Wilson Farm Community Park. Directions are below.

To Rutledge-Wilson Farm Community Park:

From Sunshine:
Â West on Sunshine
Â Right onto West Bypass
Â Take first left- Farm Road 146
Â RW Farm is approximately 1 mile down FR 146 on the right hand side. We will be meeting in the classroom in the big red barn. You may follow the parking lot all the way around behind the barn to park near the door.

Here is a link that might be useful: Map to Rutledge-Wilson
Violet_Z6
Original Author
14 years ago
New to the gardens this year, the butterfly house lets you get an up-close look at native butterflies as they transform from egg to caterpillar, from caterpillar to chrysalis, and finally from chrysalis to butterfly! Interpretive guides will help you find critters and answer your butterfly questions.

In the Butterfly Garden
Explore a garden of host plants for caterpillars and butterflies! This garden showcases plants to attract an amazing variety of butterflies to the home landscape. Chase a butterfly or two and pick up some ideas to try at home!

In the Park
Take a tour of the botanical gardens!
Get friendly with live animals at the Caterpillar Petting Zoo!
Make your own Butterfly & Caterpillar Crafts!
Learn about Host Plants and Butterfly Gardening!
Shop for Butterfly Host Plants and Garden Accents!

Saturday, July 11
Festival Activities and Butterfly House open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

9:00 Class: Butterfly Photography Learn tips and tricks for capturing butterflies on film and practice new techniques in the gardens. **Class size is limited; to register for this class call 823-9966 or e-mail naturelens @ aol.com
10:00 Class: Butterfly Identification Get to know your backyard visitors.
11:30 Class: Gardening for Butterflies Learn to attract butterflies to your home landscape.
12:00 Butterfly & Caterpillar Costume Contests Dress for success in your best homemade butterfly or caterpillar costume and meet around the statue in the butterfly garden.

Sunday, July 12
Festival Activities and Butterfly House open 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

12:00 Butterfly & Caterpillar Costume Contests Dress for success in your best homemade butterfly or caterpillar costume and meet around the statue in the butterfly garden.
1:00 Class: Butterfly Identification Get to know your backyard visitors.
2:30 Class: Gardening for Butterflies Learn to attract butterflies to your home landscape.

Springfield Butterfly House & Butterfly Festival - July 2009

Comments (8)

christie_sw_mo

Violet_Z6
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Springfield Butterfly House & Butterfly Festival - July 2009

Comments (8)

christie_sw_mo

Violet_Z6Original Author

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helenh

Rick

christie_sw_mo

helenh

noxtra

Violet_Z6Original Author

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