3 minute read
All Aflutter at Oaks Park
by Candice Temple
With the completion of a new project, there are sure to be a lot more smiles in Palm Beach Gardens. The City recently opened a butterfly garden at Oaks Park that is sure to become a favorite for locals.
Over the summer, national news reported that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had placed the migratory monarch butterfly, a subspecies of the majestic Monarch butterfly, on the endangered species list. Inspired by this news, City staff began a plan to take advantage of its abundant passive greenspaces to carve out places for a butterfly garden.
A small city park located off of Gardens East Drive, Oaks Park features pavilions, picnic tables, and a multipurpose walking trail, among other amenities. Nestled in near the walking trail and tennis court, a butterfly sanctuary has been created. The garden was designed with every stage of the butterfly life cycle in mind.
Three new oak trees have been planted to provide shade and a variety of plants, including flowering plants, have been installed to provide the nutrition butterflies need to grow from ovum to imago. Metamorphosis happens in four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult, and can be a fascinating process to witness.
As a larva, they must grow rapidly, so they eat continually. Several patches of milkweed have been planted to supply plenty of food for monarchs to feed. Milkweed is an important host plant for the monarch butterfly and, as the only plant they will lay eggs on, is critical to the mission of encouraging expansion of the population. As an adult, the most important component a butterfly garden holds is flowering plants to provide nectar.
Butterflies are valuable pollinators and the City of Palm Beach Gardens is proud to bring this latest initiative to the community. Signage has been installed at the park to educate visitors about the various flora they will view and the many butterflies they will be able to observe at the garden. Split rail fencing has been constructed for “look, don’t touch” visits.
Oaks Park is now home to what we hope will be the first of several butterfly gardens throughout the City. When you visit, be sure to look for bright green cocoons and bright yellow, black & white striped caterpillars. And know that Palm Beach Gardens is doing its part for this precious ecosystem.
