Butterfly Garden
Georgetown Optimist Club, 8260 St. Rd. 64, Georgetown, IN

The Butterfly Garden–shaped like a butterfly—at the Georgetown Optimist Club was begun in 2004, designed by Ray Weatherholt to attract native butterflies.  Plants were selected for bloom in 3 seasons. It serves as both a “thank you” to the Optimist Club for the use of its grounds and facilities for the Youth Master Gardener Program and as a prototype for other butterfly gardens.

 

The first full year of bloom was in 2005 with most of the plants having been donated. In 2009, the garden was renovated; two brochures and a garden map were also developed. In 2012, an aspiring Eagle Scout built a bridge from the Optimist Club parking lot to provide access to the garden. Signage was also added to attract visitors to the garden.

Each year plant selections are adjusted, with violets and spicebushes being introduced in 2014 to attract fritillaries and spicebush swallowtails, respectively. In the fall of 2016, Master Gardeners dug a trench along the top arc of the garden and bordered it with a berm to control erosion.

 

“Open Houses” with speakers and plant giveaways have been held each year in mid-July since 2013 to help increase public awareness of the garden.