Magnolia Garden Club has renovated the Trade Street planter in Tryon on the corner across from Stott’s Ford. The club has maintained the planter for a number of years and members can often be seen watering the plants during the summer months.
Butterflies play an important part in the food web. The larvae eat leaves and in turn are eaten by many birds and reptiles. Butterflies are also known to pollinate flowers as they go from one flower to another. Many species of butterflies are endangered. With this in mind, the garden club members chose annuals, perennials and wildflowers to provide a source of nectar for butterflies in the area. Flowers included in the planter are bee balm, black-eyed Susans, butterfly weed, daylily, liatris, purple coneflower, yarrow and Joe Pye weed. The flowers selected bloom from late spring through fall to make sure the butterflies will be able to find food for as long as possible.
Butterfly gardens are generally located in a sunny location, because butterflies need sun to keep their bodies warm enough so they can fly. Butterflies need both nectar and larval food to live and reproduce. Many larval sources are located near the planter including, dogwood, elm, oak, tulip poplar, clover, violets, nettle and vetch.
If you are interested in planning a butterfly garden for your home, information is available through N.C. State University, www.ces.ncsu.edu, or through the Polk County extension office at 828-894-8218.
Magnolia members include Ruth Ann Arledge, Judy Banks, Elizabeth Burrell, Peggy Constance, Peggy Edwards, Shirley Edwards, Carol Lawrence and Sheila Miller.
– article submitted
by Judy Banks