Snetsinger Butterfly Garden

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Snetsinger Butterfly Garden The park is located within Tudek Memorial Park in State College, PA.

The Snetsinger Butterfly Garden is a unique three acre habitat developed by Dr. Robert Snetsinger (aka Butterfly Bob) to promote pollinator conservation and environmental stewardship. The Snetsinger Butterfly Garden is a unique three acre habitat developed under the direction of Dr. Robert Snetsinger (aka Butterfly Bob) to promote pollinator conservation and issues of environmental stewardship. The Snetsinger Butterfly Garden was created in partnership with the Tudek Trust, Ferguson Township and Centre Region Parks and Recreation. The Master Gardeners of Centre County joined this partnership in 2007 to work with Dr. Snetsinger to develop and maintain this habitat as a major educational resource for the community. Since 2007 Dr. Snetsinger and the Master Gardeners have worked to develop additional partnerships that would expand the opportunities for educational outreach and research. Penn State's Frost Entomological Museum and its support organization, the Friends of Frost, assist with the development of educational displays and exhibits, outreach programs and research. Also involved in these activities and programs is Penn State's Center for Pollinator Research. Many community organizations work with the Master Gardeners as partners in various events and activities including Penn State's Shavers Creek Environmental Center, the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society, Muddy Paws Marsh, Discovery Space of Central PA, the Bellefonte Children's Garden, Centre Crest, and several local schools.

Leave those Leaves!The larvae of many butterflies and moths spend the winter under a protective blanket of fallen leaves...
10/11/2026

Leave those Leaves!
The larvae of many butterflies and moths spend the winter under a protective blanket of fallen leaves. That woolly bear caterpillar you saw crossing the road is headed for winter quarters under leaves, logs, or tree bark! Great spangled fritillary caterpillars crawl into the leaf litter at the base of their host plant (violets) to wait out the winter. And the eggs of the red-banded hairstreak hatch on fallen oak leaves. When the caterpillars hatch, they’ll use those leaves as their primary food source as well as shelter.
Photos: Mike Lutmerding, Tom Baker

Frost aster (Symphotrichum ericoides)Photo: Jen Neal
10/07/2026

Frost aster (Symphotrichum ericoides)
Photo: Jen Neal

10/04/2026

Forget pumpkin spice-- the pollen and nectar of goldenrod (Solidago spp) is the real flavor of fall for this happy bee!

While we know that milkw**d provides benefits to many insects besides monarch butterflies, did you know that not so very...
09/27/2026

While we know that milkw**d provides benefits to many insects besides monarch butterflies, did you know that not so very long ago, it was important to humans as well?
Up until WWII, life jackets and flight suits were stuffed with the buoyant fibers of the kapok tree, which grows in Java. But escalating hostilities made it necessary for the U.S. government to find a substitute. Enter milkw**d to save the day! Milkw**d floss is naturally water-repellent, buoyant, and lightweight. To source the material, the federal government reclassified milkw**d from a "noxious w**d" to a "strategic wartime material" and launched a massive national collection campaign targeting schoolchildren. 4-Hers, Boy Scouts, and children throughout the Midwest scoured fields and roadsides for milkw**d pods, and were usually paid about 15 cents per bag. By the war’s end, enough milkw**d floss had been collected to produce about 1.2 million life preservers!

Scenes from last week's Monarchs on the Move. Thanks to all who came out and to our wonderful volunteers!
09/20/2026

Scenes from last week's Monarchs on the Move. Thanks to all who came out and to our wonderful volunteers!

09/18/2026

Thriving, diverse meadow ❤️

It was a lovely day for our Olli class last week, when students visited the SBG for a tour and a garden design activity....
09/16/2026

It was a lovely day for our Olli class last week, when students visited the SBG for a tour and a garden design activity. As you can see, a good time was had by all!
If you'd like to schedule a tour for your group, email us: [email protected]

09/13/2026

It was a great day for Monarchs on the Move! Thanks to all who came out. More to follow!

Did you know? Early North American settlers were impressed by the vivid colors of Danaus plexippus and dubbed this speci...
09/11/2026

Did you know? Early North American settlers were impressed by the vivid colors of Danaus plexippus and dubbed this species “King Billy” after King William, Prince of Orange. Later, the name was changed to ‘monarch’ in recognition of the earlier connection to royalty.
Learn more fun facts about monarchs and other pollinators at Monarchs on the Move! Saturday, September 12, 1 p.m. at the garden.

Learn about the many butterflies and other pollinators who call the garden home—all year long! Monarchs on the Move, Sat...
09/10/2026

Learn about the many butterflies and other pollinators who call the garden home—all year long! Monarchs on the Move, Saturday at 1 pm. See you at the garden!

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400 Herman Drive
State College, PA
16803

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