“Where are all the butterflies?” asked Lisa Graff in the July 7 edition of the Cape Gazette. It was a delightful article that highlighted the devotion of Graff’s neighbor, Marianne, and Milton resident Michael McFarlin, to doing their part in addressing the plight of the monarch butterfly. While I wanted to say kudos to Marianne and Colonel McFarlin for their efforts, I also found myself wanting to add, “You should see the Meadow at Delaware Botanic Gardens!” because if you care about pollinators (and butterflies in particular) then this is a sight to warm your heart!
For those who are not familiar, Delaware Botanic Gardens is a grassroots effort to develop a 37-acre site on Pepper Creek outside of Dagsboro into a botanic garden highlighting the rich diversity of plants on the Delmarva Coastal Plain. Toward that end we have been fortunate to enlist the help of world-renowned landscape designer Piet Oudolf in developing a two-plus-acre meadow of pollinator-friendly wildflowers and grasses.
In addition, there are surrounding gardens replicating the inland dunes of Sussex County, a woodland edge garden and approximately 10 acres of woods. The edge gardens expand the variety of nectar and host plants for pollinators, and the naturally occurring trees of the woodlands also play a vital and sometimes overlooked role. Butterflies will lay their eggs only on the leaves of plants that the emerging caterpillars will eat. These plants are designated as host plants for butterflies. For many butterflies the host plant is limited to just one species.
The monarch’s dependence on milkweed is the most widely known example of this trait. The woodlands at Delaware Botanic Gardens include many native trees, including black cherry, tulip and sassafras, which feed the caterpillars of several swallowtail butterflies and many other species.
By focusing on mostly native plants, the Delaware Botanic Gardens is naturally becoming a haven for pollinators of all types. The Meadow is literally abuzz with activity which can be enjoyed when the gardens open to the general public on a daily basis Sept. 16.
If your curiosity cannot wait until then, there is a team of dedicated volunteers who welcome all new garden friends who want to help in any way, maybe even by planting plants and pulling weeds! Join the excitement of being part of the effort to bring Delaware Botanic Gardens to its opening day! More information on volunteering and upcoming events is available through the website www.delawaregardens.org.
Happy gardening!
Margaret Kimmel
volunteer, Delaware Botanic Gardens
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