Butterflies & Blooms classes continue July 27

Ray Sander, Delaware Botanic Gardens president, announced the 37-acre grounds are in full peak summer bloom, and Butterflies & Blooms classes continue weekly at 9 a.m., Thursdays, through Aug. 31.

“This Butterflies & Blooms class is a family-friendly class that is both fun and educational. All are welcome,” said Sander.

Stephen Pryce Lea, director of horticulture and education programs, said, “The summer breeze carries the hungry pollinators inland to the abundance of our DBG blooms. DBG is fortunate to have a well-established Piet Oudolf 2-acre meadow with native plants that attract essential pollinators. We have seen an upturn in the numbers of bees and butterflies visiting the gardens and woodland trails. Now is the best time to visit.”

This program offers guests a chance to explore the Piet Oudolf Meadow in a new way, searching for and identifying the many butterfly species that take advantage of the nectar offered by the blooming perennials. Monarchs, spicebush swallowtails, eastern tiger swallowtails, American ladies, painted ladies, variegated fritillaries and silver-spotted skippers are some of the most frequent visitors to the meadow. Volunteer docents help guests identify the butterflies and their favorite nectar plants in the meadow. The necessary host plants, where hungry caterpillars eat their way to the next stage, are also discussed so gardeners can be sure they are supporting the entire lifecycle of the butterflies they love.

Preregistration is required. This is a family-friendly program welcoming butterfly lovers of all ages.

To register, go to delawaregardens.org. For members, admission and the tour are free. Nonmember admission is $15, and the tour fee is $10 for adults. For children 16 and under, when accompanied by an adult, admission and tour are free.

The Delaware Botanic Gardens are located at 30220 Piney Neck Road, Dagsboro.