“Skies of Butterflies” will flutter into Texas Discovery Gardens.“Skies of Butterflies” takes flight at Texas Discovery Gardens during the State Fair of Texas, brilliantly reflecting the “Sky’s the Limit” theme. Come inside the screened enclosure, located next to the Butterfly Habitat Garden, and prepare to be mesmerized by a kaleidoscope of native butterflies including spreadwing skippers, brush-foots and monarchs.
“We are emphasizing only native butterflies in their many colors, sizes and shapes,” says Melissa Martin, Executive Director of Texas Discovery Gardens. “These are the butterflies you’re most likely to see in this area, and the varieties you may attract when growing your own butterfly garden.”
Butterflies in the exhibit were purchased from Dale Clark, a local butterfly farmer and co-founder of the Dallas County Lepidopterists’ Society. Inside the “Skies of Butterflies” house you might see such colorful subspecies as Giant Swallowtails and Great Purple Hairstreaks.
Along with dozens of species of butterflies, are native and tropical nectar plants like lantana, zinnias and pentas.
Docents will be on hand to explain butterfly life cycles and which plants attract butterflies. For example, did you know that monarchs only lay their eggs on milkweed?
Tag a monarch and help the species survive.
You can even participate in Texas Discovery Gardens’ daily monarch tagging program, part of Monarch Watch, a nationwide program based at the University of Kansas that helps in the conservation of these butterflies. “Each fall, monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains migrate south from the Canadian border toward Mexico,” explains Ms. Martin. “Monarch Watch tries to determine if monarchs take specific pathways or if weather influences migration. By having citizens tag monarchs, these questions can be better answered, and the monarch butterfly has an increased chance of survival.” Tags have serial numbers which are recorded by the tagger, along with current weather conditions.
Butterflies are currently enjoying incredible popularity, not only because of their spiritual benefits (colorful and soothing to look at) but they are perfectly at home in organic gardens. “Butterflies are attracted only to plants and environments without pesticides,” says Ms. Martin. “Planting a successful butterfly garden requires using all-organic ingredients.”
According to Dale Clark, “People that ‘go green’ in their own yards and plant appropriate host and nectar plants for butterflies and other insects will be amazed at how alive their yards can be in a short time.”
There’s a wide, beautiful world waiting in the wings at “Skies of Butterflies” at Texas Discovery Gardens. For more information, visit Texas Discovery Gardens website. Come explore while you’re at the State Fair of Texas.
