The second annual Friends of the Garden Butterfly Festival is set for the dates July 24-25 in Springfield, Missouri. It will take place in the botanical gardens and arboretum at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, where your family and the butterflies will find clusters of white, blue, pink or purple flowers, their favorite type of habitat.
The free event, a favorite of children and adults, celebrates all things butterfly-related. It will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. July 24 and 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. July 25.
At the nearby butterfly garden, families will be able to view and identify host plants, such as carrots, dill, fennel, parsley, snapdragons, violets, false indigo, grasses and other annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs and container plants, that attract egg-laying adult butterflies.
“Host plants, together with nectar plants such as cosmos, asters and black-eyed Susans, can attract an amazing variety of butterflies to the home landscape,” said Friends of the Garden member Cindy Willis. “It will be a great two days to chase a butterfly or two and pick up some ideas to try at home.”
Children’s activities include crafts and a caterpillar petting zoo. Vendors will set up shop selling a variety of plants and garden-related merchandise and workshops will be held on both July 24 and July 25.
The $3 admission fee to the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, located on the north side of the park, will be waived the two days of the Festival. Hours are 9 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
For those who need a little help getting around the 114-acre park and arboretum at 2400 S. Scenic Ave., free transportation via a canopy-covered tram is available. The tram is sponsored in partnership with the Springfield-Greene County Park Board.
The 500-member Friends of the Garden volunteer organization helped raise funds to build the $4.3 million Botanical Center, planned to open in October 2010. The group is now devoted to maintaining the current 22 gardens and adding 23 more. For more information and donations, visit www.Friendsofthegarden.org.
For more information about Springfield and area hotels, visit www.SpringfieldAdventures.com or call the Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-678-8767.
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