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

TThe Butterfly Garden at the Georgetown Optimist Club was begun in 2004, designed by former SMG member Ray Weatherholt to attract native butter-flies, with plants selected for bloom in 3 seasons, and is shaped like a butterfly. It was intended as both a “thank you” to the Optimist Club for the use of its grounds and facilities for the Youth Master Gardener Program as well as a potential proto-type 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 Ea-gle Scout built a bridge from the Optimist Club parking lot for access to the gar-den. Signage was also added to attract visitors to the garden.

Each year plant selections are adjusted, with violets and spicebushes be-ing introduced in 2014 to attract fritillaries and spicebush swallowtails, respective-ly. In the fall of 2016, Master Gardeners dug a trench along the top arc of the garden and bordered it by a berm to control erosion. “Open Houses,” including speakers and plant giveaways, have been held to help increase public awareness of the garden.