Butterflies & Blooms classes to start July 21
Delaware Botanic Gardens announced its Butterflies & Blooms Class is set for 11 a.m., Thursday, July 21. Sessions will run weekly through Aug. 28, when the 37-acre gardens are in full summer bloom at 30220 Piney Neck Road, Dagsboro.
“This Butterflies & Blooms class is a family-friendly class that is both fun and educational. All are welcome,” said Ray Sander, DBG president.
Stephen Pryce Lea, director of horticulture, 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.”
Attendees will join DBG volunteer educators Margaret Kimmel and Craig Haggerty at the gardens to learn about the summer butterflies that visit the Piet Oudolf Meadow, including monarchs, swallowtails and more. Guest will learn to identify these butterflies and discover the critical role of nectar, host plants and blooms in the life cycle of butterflies. Sessions conclude with an exploration of the Piet Oudolf Meadow with DBG volunteers, identifying the many butterflies that visit. Preregistration is required as class size is limited. This is a family-friendly program welcoming butterfly lovers of all ages.
Special summer meadow garden tours will be offered at 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24. Stephen Pryce Lea, director of horticulture, will lead guests on a leisurely stroll through the 2-acre Piet Oudolf Meadow. Attendees can learn about the benefits of growing native plants and the pollinators they attract.
Admission for nonmembers is $15, plus a tour fee of $10. Members are admitted free. Children ages 16 and under have free admission to the gardens and tours. Reserve tickets at delawaregardens.org.
