Snetsinger Butterfly Garden

08/30/2026

New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) is late-summer royalty for the pollinator garden! One of more than a dozen species native to North America, this robust perennial is crowned by large flat-topped flower clusters (corymbs) of royal purple disc florets, which pair well with native grasses and golden fall colors. (At the SBG, we especially love the winning combination of ironweed, big bluestem grass and yellow cut-leaved coneflower.)
Ironweed attracts a bevy of skippers and other butterflies, moths, and native bees who are seeking nectar as the growing season comes to a close. Several wild bees are specialist pollen collectors of ironweed, including the long-horned bees Melissodes denticulata and M. vernoniae. It’s also a host plant for caterpillars of the ironweed borer moth, the striking Parthenice tiger moth, and the red groundling moth. The tall, sturdy stems are a good spot for butterflies to attach their chrysalides, and if left standing, provide winter cover for birds.
New York ironweed thrives in sunny areas with moist soil. This low- maintenance wildflower naturalizes easily and is a great choice for rain gardens, along streams or ponds, moist meadows, or the back of the border.

08/28/2026

Monarchs are on the move! Join us on Saturday September 12 to learn more

08/26/2026

Save the date!

08/23/2026

We recently spotted a group of meadow fritillaries “puddling” in the habitat. Butterflies land on wet sand, mud, or damp gravel to drink mineral-rich water. They do this to collect important nutrients like salts, sodium, and amino acids that are missing from their normal flower nectar diet (sugar can only take you so far!). The extras help power their muscles and active flight during warm summer days, and keep them cool and hydrated. Most butterflies that puddle are males, who store the extra goodies to pass to females during mating as a "nuptial gift”, which helps her eggs survive. While puddling, they’re entirely focused on the business at hand, so you might be able to get quite close to observe this fascinating behavior.
Learn more about butterflies at the garden during “Monarchs on the Move” on Saturday, September 12, 1 p.m. Mark your calendar now!

08/16/2026

For the past several weeks, a group of hardworking individuals from the Acres Project (https://www.acresproject.org/) have been volunteering at the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden, preparing the garden area for our relocated Monarch Waystation. Even during the blistering heat, they cleared a long-overgrown area, laid new walking paths, and installed plants that provide critical resources for monarchs throughout their annual cycle of reproduction and migration. We’re very excited about this new partnership, where Master Gardeners have had the opportunity to work alongside these young adults during our Work/Learn/Connect sessions. We celebrated their accomplishments on August 4th.
If your community group is interested in a project such as this, let us know! Email [email protected].

08/14/2026

Silver spotted skippers enjoying ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)

08/12/2026

Eastern tiger swallowtail ❤️

08/09/2026

One of our participants captured this lovely shot of a Peck’s skipper (Polites peckius) during last weekend’s Bioblitz. This perky pollinator can be found in fields, lawns and other open areas from spring through autumn, and its rapid, ‘skipping’ flight pattern can make it challenging to photograph! Like other members of its family, it rests in the classic V or ‘jet fighter’ position. Many species have a similar appearance, but to identify a Peck’s skipper, look for a patch of yellowish spots in the center of the underside of the hindwing (both sexes), surrounded by darker brown.
The larvae feed on a variety of grasses, forming leaf shelters very close to the ground, where they are fortuitously mostly sheltered from lawnmowers. The SBG’s native meadow is a haven for them! Overwintering either as a caterpillar or chrysalis, adults emerge in spring to nectar on many plants such as clover, milkweeds, and members of the sunflower family.
Photo: Joe Gyekis

08/05/2026