Glenview Gardeners open butterfly garden
Glenview Gardeners officially opened their butterfly garden at The Grove in Glenview during their meeting Aug. 17 with the unveiling of a plaque. They also used the occasion to celebrate their 30th anniversary as a club, feasting on special cookies decorated with flowers and butterflies.
The butterfly garden is on the other side of a fence that encloses the Kennicott Garden, which the club also maintains. Last year, when the Grove cut back bushes growing in the area, the idea of a butterfly garden was hatched. The Glenview Gardeners sought funds for the project and got a great response from neighbors on NextDoor, and donations from Lurvey's Garden Center and Weiss Ace Hardware.
Members then set about cleaning the area, working the soil and getting plants appropriate for the area. Planting occurred earlier in the summer and by August the plants were established.
The plaque that was unveiled reads: "Pollinator Friendly Garden - This butterfly garden was planted by the Glenview Gardeners with generous donations from Lurvey's Garden Center, Weiss Ace Hardware, and the neighbors of Glenview on NextDoor.com."
Some 304 plants were put in for the butterfly garden area. They include swamp milkweed and butterfly weed that are hosts for the Monarch butterfly. Parsley, dill, fennel and common rue host the Swallowtail butterfly. Plants that provide nectar for butterflies include coneflowers, amsonia, phlox, salvia, goldenrod, yarrow, columbine and coreopsis.
The club was founded 30 years ago by the late Leo Cronin and the late Mort Ohren to appeal to homeowners who liked to putter in the garden. Both men would be pleased to see how it is thriving today.
More information about the club and upcoming meetings can be found at GlenviewGardeners.org.