Butterfly Festivals

In the summer the Butterfly bushes and perennials are in full bloom, attracting many species of butterflies.   We often spot Tiger swallowtails (pictured below), and in recent years have seen Sulfurs (medium size yellow), Frittilaries (orange with black spots), Red Admiral (black with red shoulder stripes), Commas (distinctive scalloped edging with orange and black, as well as the common Cabbage Whites.  If this is like most years, Eastern Black and Pipevine Swallowtails and Monarchs (the familiar orange and black striped), Skippers, and Azures will also come.  The butterfly bushes are covered with fragrant lavender blossoms in summer, and the scarlet bee balm, yellow, black eyed susans, echinacea, asclepias incarnata, and baby blue scabiosa are all in bloom, beckoning the butterflies to make an appearance. We've had everything from Monarchs to Swallowtails (three kinds -- Tiger, Eastern Black and Spicebush), Commas, Red Admirals, American Painted Ladies, Frittilaries, Skippers, Sulfurs, Azures, and the everpresent Cabbage Whites.  Most of these show up every year.

In 1995 RING started its Butterfly Festival, held the last week of July or the first weekend in August. In 1996, seven species of butterflies graced the four butterfly bushes.  Some years there have been as many as 10 species of butterfly.  Our Butterfly Festivals honor the Butterfly, which has had a tough time of it.  Do join us for a mid-summer get-together; sip some lemonade and munch on cookies. It’s a perfect opportunity to introduce your friends and neighbors to the garden. RING’s solar waterfalls project is complete and there for the viewing. Garden tours will be available on request, and RING Board members will be on hand should you want to know anything about the garden. If you want to learn more about joining RING (only $10/year and you can get a key to the garden) or becoming a volunteer at RING, we’ll be more than happy to describe the numerous opportunities. We are open most Saturday mornings all summer. The Butterflies are invited and so are YOU. Last year 7 species came to our festival. Why don't you join us too?

In 2001 the Butterfly Festival is to be held on

Saturday, July 28 from 10 am to 3 pm.

Red Admirals, Monarchs and Painted Ladies have already been seen as of mid-June 2001

For more photos of our butterflies, go to our Butterfly photo page.

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