Butterflies: sighting locations

Butterfliessighting locations abound in public gardens, parks and wildlife areas

utterfly watching excels in our area with over 60 species of native butterflies. Private butterfly gardens abound as contain-B ers on balconies, in backyards in urban and suburban neighborhoods and as prairie ecosystems on rural farms. But where to go see butterflies in public places?

Meeting the Needs of Butterflies and Humans

A “pretty garden” is not enough for the idiosyncratic butterflies. The best public spaces have deliberately planted the unique host plants eaten by the caterpillars of the various species of butterfly. You must feed the children to see the winged adults. For example, Milkweed feeds Monarch caterpillars. Black Swallowtail caterpillars depend on plants in the carrot family. Great Spangled Fritillary caterpillars eat only violets, etc. The more different host plants in a garden or park, the more different adult butterflies will be seen nectaring on flowers. The garden must also be managed for butterflies by rejecting insecticides, maintaining wild areas and avoiding fall clean-up. Butterfly sightings also depend on whether the time of year coincides with the butterfly’s adult stage, the weather (sunny and above 65 degrees), time of day (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and whether a resident population lives at that site. And most of all, LUCK!

Humans also have needs when in public spaces, such as a safe area with ample parking and restrooms. Use trails for easy access and protection against poison ivy and ticks. You will need close-focusing binoculars or a macro-lens camera, and a butterfly field guide. Go with friends! A team approach improves the opportunities for sightings and accurate identifications.

The Best Butterfly-watching Destination: Powell Gardens

Members of our local butterfly club, the Idalia Society, unanimously recommended Powell Gardens, which has benefited from the legacy of Alan Branhagen, former Director of Horticulture. During his 21-year tenure at Powell Gardens, his comprehensive knowledge produced one of the first public butterfly gardens and the nation’s largest annual butterfly festival with the conservatory of tropical butterflies and native butterflies in their habitats.

This focus on butterflies continues under the leadership of CEO/President Tabitha Schmidt, who says: “Powell Gardens showcases the importance of butterflies not only through its annual Festival of Butterflies, but also throughout the year by drawing attention to the ecosystems necessary to supporting them.” Director of Horticulture, Susan Mertz, echoes this message: “Powell Gardens wants our visitors to be inspired to add both butterfly host and nectar plants to their gardens. During the height of butterfly season, visitors can follow the Monarch’s journey in the Butterfly Meadow and see all stages of the butterfly’s life cycle in the Native Butterfly Tent.”

Other Outstanding Butterfly Gardens n The Pollinator Prairie in Olathe was formed by a partnership of government, industry and community groups which restored the CCI toxic dump site and planted five pollinator gardens representing Kansas’ original Tall Grass Prairie habitat. Each garden has paths and comprehensive signage. The gardens are maintained by the Johnson County Master Naturalists.

n The Overland Park Arboretum was an “accidental butterfly garden” since many of its native trees coincidentally serve as butterfly host plants. A designated butterfly garden has now been added with educational signage to enhance the visitor experience.

n Kauffman Gardens has a butterfly garden in a very formal setting. The nearby Anita Gorman Discovery Center has native plants in a very informal setting. Both are full of butterflies. This juxtaposition demonstrates that butterflies don’t care about your gardening style as long as you have the “right” plants. Local Parks and Wildlife Areas

Many parks serve area residents but not all meet the needs of butterflies. The parks listed below have been recommended by Idalia Butterfly Society members because of the multitude of diverse species observed. Many groups combine bird watching and butterfly sighting. They arrive at a wildlife area starting at 5 or 6 a.m. for bird watching. As the day warms, birds retreat to the shady foliage and butterflies emerge to dance in the sun until dusk when the birds reemerge.

n Big Bull Creek, 2060 acres in Edgerton, Kansas, has areas of trails and restored prairie and focuses on nature-based learning, play and restoration.

n Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary in Liberty, MO has a Nature Center with restrooms, a library and gift shop. The 100 acres include four miles of trails that wind through a variety of planted gardens and wild areas.

n The 1,600 acre Shawnee Mission Park includes Ogg Prairie whose wild flowers attract clouds of pollinators on a sunny day. Trails, shelters and a 120-acre lake provide amenities for both humans and butterflies.

n Jerry Smith Park (south Kansas City, MO). Contains 360 acres with a restroom and picnic area. The well-maintained walking trails wind through a combination of prairie and forest habitat.

Summary

These gardens, parks and wildlife areas represent just a few of the available butterfly watching opportunities in our area. Look for baby butterflies (caterpillars) on host plants and the winged adults on flowers. Please do not touch or capture butterflies. Today’s butterfly lovers catch butterflies with their cameras and maintain their collections digitally.

LENORA LARSON Butterfly Maven

A Marais des Cygnes Master Gardener, Lenora is a member of the Idalia Butterfly Society and Kansas Native Plant Society. She gardens in the clay soil and cruel winds of Paola, KS. She may be contacted at lenora.longlips@gmail.com.

Members of the Idalia Butterfly Society on a field trip.

Photos by Lenora Larson.

Powell Gardens’ signage at the entrance to the Native Butterfly Tent Loose Park includes a butterfly garden among the roses!

Our native citrus tree, Prickly Ash, grows in the Overland Park Arboretum’s woods and feeds the Giant Swallowtail’s caterpillars. The spectacular adults (6” wingspread!) nectar on flowers in the gardens.

Great Spangled Fritillaries are 30% larger than Monarchs and are found nectaring in areas that violets, their caterpillar’s host plant, are allowed to grow. Most public gardens plant Tropical Milkweed as the surest way to attract Monarchs.