Victoria Education Gardens has always been a wonderful destination for those of us who love butterflies. On sunny days, visitors are treated to the sight of multitudes of butterflies, busily whirling and fluttering from blossom to blossom in their search for nectar. The thing is, we humans are so enchanted by these winged beauties that we often forget that this is only one stage of their complex life cycle.
Original tiny house
With this in mind, the Victoria County Master Gardeners built a tiny butterfly house years ago, so that visitors could observe at least a portion of the butterfly life cycle. While the little house was able to educate visitors about the mysterious progression of butterflies from caterpillar to chrysalis, it was too small to tell the full story.
As a result, the Master Gardeners have long hoped to expand both the size and the scope of the facility in order to help visitors understand the complete life cycle of the butterfly from the very beginning to the very end - and by extension, impart a better understanding of the role life cycles play for all forms of life.
Through a recent donation by longtime Victoria County Master Gardener Cliff Knezek and lots of hot summertime work provided by several master gardeners, that goal has been attained.
On a roll
With news of the donation made earlier this year, master gardeners quickly realized the time had come for a new butterfly haven at Victoria Education Gardens.
The planning process had to cover several variables. The butterflies and caterpillars would require food, water, warmth, basking and puddling areas, and plenty of flying space. They would also need lots of sunlight as well as protection from strong winds.
And then there were the people - individuals and groups of all abilities would need to be able to enter and navigate the enclosure easily, and they would also require close proximity to plants and insects for educational purposes.
- Structure similar to swimming pool cover
Butterfly Haven committee members reviewed several housing possibilities, before deciding upon an enclosure normally used to cover swimming pools. The structure met all the required elements - a strong wind resistant metal frame and replaceable screening, a double entry system to help keep adult butterflies inside but also allow easy access for humans, plenty of room for walkways and flowerbeds, and adequate flying space for adult butterflies.
Construction
Once plans were finalized by committee members, it took only about three days for work crews from Specialty Shutter Systems to erect the enclosure. The raised flowerbeds, electricity, drip irrigation system, and walkway were then installed by master gardeners over a period of a few weeks. Installation of flowering plants and larval host plants have been initiated and will continue over the coming months as seasonal needs of the plants allow.
The circular walkway inside the enclosure was carefully chosen to benefit both humans and butterflies. Butterflies like to bask, so flat pavers provide plenty of warm places for perching. Humans benefit because of the sure footing provided, and the width of the walkway easily accommodates wheelchairs, walkers and strollers.
Raised flowerbeds inside the haven provide ample space for both nectar plants and caterpillar food plants. Resident butterflies will also enjoy a puddling area where they can obtain water, minerals and other nutrients.
An arbor is planned for the entrance of the butterfly haven, and raised flowerbeds have been constructed to encircle the exterior of the structure. As with the interior planting, the arbor and the exterior flowerbeds will be planted with a selection of flowering and host plants attractive to butterflies and their caterpillars.
Looking ahead
Next week, we will discuss the butterfly species, flowering plants, and caterpillar host plants to be added to the Victoria Education Gardens Butterfly Haven.
The Gardeners' Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at VictoriaAdvocate.com.
Victoria County Master Gardener Association
