Learn about pollinators at Elgin butterfly garden Sunday

As part of Elgin's Preservation Month activities, "Preserve Our Pollinators" will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, May 7, at the NENA Butterfly Garden, off Ann Street and Douglas Avenue in Elgin.

From 9 to 10:30 a.m., bring your garden gloves to help plant a native shade garden. Then from 10:30 to 11 a.m., native gardeners will be on hand for questions.

Butterfly enthusiast Janie Grillo will speak on how to attract butterflies to your garden from 11 to 11:30 a.m.

State Rep. Anna Moeller will speak about why milkweed matters and how to include it in your garden from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Milkweed will be available for purchase. Light refreshments will be served.

For information, contact Kerry Kelly at board@nenaofelgin.org.

Formally a vacant lot at the south end of the Spring-Douglas historic neighborhood, the Ann Street-Douglas Avenue Butterfly Garden is the creation of volunteers and local residents who wanted to bring a natural, tranquil and butterfly-friendly garden to the northeast neighborhood of Elgin.

Working with the City of Elgin through a Neighborhood Improvement Grant and through generous donations from private individuals, local businesses and service organizations, the garden was built in 2008 and expanded in 2010.

The western portion of the garden was designed based on Pat Hill's book "Design Your Natural Midwest Garden."

The eastern portion of the garden was designed by Laura Anderson.

The garden serves as a focal point in the neighborhood where people, pollinators (the butterfly and bee variety), and native perennials meet.

Visit www.facebook.com/AnnStreetDouglasAvenueButterflyGarden/.