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Butterfly Junction
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Created by the Hyde Park Visual Environment Committee
Funded by Learn, Play, Create, Think Differently
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The HPVEC was awarded a $20,000 grant from Dutchess County’s Government’s Learn, Play, Create: Supporting our kids program to install a sensory pollinator garden that is wheelchair and walker accessible. We have partnered with the Staatsburg Library, where the garden has been installed, and the Anderson Center for Autism, through their Think Differently Grant, to develop signage and activities for children with special needs. The garden includes ADA raised beds to accommodate wheelchairs in addition to native pollinator plants, signage, a solar birdbath, wind chimes and ceramic representations of some butterflies and their larvae that may be found in the garden.
The garden has been designed to use as a teaching garden with activities geared to children. We will continue to collaborate with the Staatsburg Library and the Anderson Center for Autism to create educational and fun activities for children of all abilities.
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Below is a link from the QR Code on the sign you have captured it from with your cell phone. We have
a code to each sign as well a comprehensive list that follows below of each plant in the garden.
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Plant Guide to Butterfly Junction
sensory pollinator garden
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1. Aquilegia Canandensis - Little Lantern Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canandensis is native to woodland and rocky slopes in eastern North America. It produces an abundance of small red and yellow flowers that bloom for many weeks from late March through the end of June. They are a valuable nectar source for hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and hawk moths. Their seeds are eaten by finches and buntings. Aquilegia canandensis grows 1-3’ tall in part shade and medium moisture. It is a stunning display grown in groups.
2. Asclepias Tuberosa - Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa is a species of milkweed native to North America. It is commonly known as butterfly weed because of the butterflies that are attracted to it due to its bright orange color and abundant nectar. Most importantly, it serves as the host plant for the Monarch butterfly caterpillar. Milkweed plants are essential to the Monarch butterfly’s survival because it is the only food source for the Monarch butterfly caterpillar.It grows 1-3’ tall and blooms from May to August. It has a 3-6” long seed pod that contains many long-haired seeds. It grows in full sun.
3. Symphyotrichum oblongiofolius - Raydon’s Favorite Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium is native to parts of the eastern and central United States. This plant boasts a multitude of blue-purple daisy like flowers that bloom late summer and fall. The leaves are fragrant, making it deer resistant, although occasional nibbling does occur. This mounding plant grows 30-40” high in full sun to part shade. It is drought resistant and an important late season source of nectar for butterflies and bees. Birds enjoy the seeds.
4. Carex Pennsylvanica - Pennsylvania sedge
Carex pennsylvanica is a popular lawn alternative for home landscaping. It grows up to 12” with a cluster of brown sees capsules in the spring.Native to North America, it tends to grow in sun/part sun to shade in dry to moist soils. Birds are attracted to the seeds and it provides nesting material for butterflies and native bees.
5. Ceanothus Americanus - New Jersey Tea
Caanothus americanus is a small, upright deciduous shrub native to eastern North America that grows only three feet tall. In early spring, the shrub is covered in white 2- inch flower clusters. Its compact size lends itself nicely to a small garden. Ceanothus americanus thrives in full sun to part shade in dry to moist soil. This lovely shrub attracts birds and butterflies and is of special value to native bees. The caterpillars of the Spring Azure, Summer Azure and Mottled Duskywing feed on the foliage.
6. Coreopsis Verticillata - Threadleaf Tickseed
Coreopsis verticillata is a North American native from Maryland to South Dakota east to Kentucky and Tennessee. It grows 1-2’ with daisy like flowers from June – August. It prefers full sun to part shade, is deer resistant and drought tolerant. It attracts butterflies and bees and birds enjoy the seeds.
7. Echinacea - Prairie Splendor Coneflower
Echinacea is native to eastern and central North America. The Prairie Splendor cultivar grows 18-22” high and blooms from June through September. The pink flowers attract birds, butterflies, bees and other native insects. It prefers full sun to part shade and tolerates moist to dry conditions.
8. Liatris Spicata - Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata is native to New Jersey to Missouri and Illinois south to Florida and Louisiana.It grows from 3-4’ in full sun in moist to average soil. It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and native bees. Birds also enjoy the seeds. The flower stalk of purple flowers rise above a base of grass like leaves, blooming in July and August.
9. Monarda Puntata - ‘Bee Bop’ Dotted Horsemint
Monarda punctate is native to eastern Canada, the eastern Unites States and northeastern Mexico.
Monarda punctate reaches a height of 16-20”. This aromatic, deer resistant and drought tolerant plant has a long bloom period from May through August. It supports native bees and butterflies. The flowers are light yellow with purple spots. It prefers full sun to part shade.
10. Physostegia Virginiana - Miss Manners Obedient Plant
“Miss Manners” Obedient Plant is a naturally occurring seedling of Physostegia virginiana “Rosesa” but it maintains a compact habit and does not flop or spread aggressively. This white flowered beauty reaches a height of 24-30”. It prefers full sun and can thrive in a variety of soil types. It blooms in July and August andt attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
11. Pycnanthemum Tenuifolium - Slender Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium is native to Eastern North America. It grows 2-3’ high and blooms July through September.It thrives in full sun to part shade, is deer resistant, and can tolerate drought. This plant attracts native bees, honey bees and butterflies. It is in the mint family, so it does spread.
12. Solidago Fugose – Fireworks Goldenrod
Fireworks is a cultivar of the native Solidago rugose. It reaches a height of 24-3” and will not spread aggressively.It is deer resistant and thrives in full sun and moderate moisture. In late summer, bright yellow blooms appear along 18” arching stems for a showy display resembling fireworks. Blooms will continue until late September.This plant is a very important nectar source for migrating Monarch butterflies, bees and other native pollinators.
13. Tephrosia Virginiana - Goat’s Rue
Tephosia virginiana is native to eastern United States. The flowers resemble bi-colored sweet peas. It grows 1-2’ tall and is in bloom May – July. It can grow in sun, part shade and shade in dry soil. The nectar and pollen of Tephrosia attract native bees. The caterpillars of the skipper, Southern Cloudywing feed on its foliage.
14. Viola Sororia - Common Blue Violet
Viola sororia, commonly known as the common blue violet, is native to North America. They thrive in sun or dappled shade and prefer damp soil. It has heart shaped leaves and purple flowers. They bloom March-May. Because they bloom in early spring, they are an important food source for emerging bees. They are the host plant for many fritillalry caterpillers.
15. Zizia Aptera - Heart Leafed Alexander
Zizia aptera is a North American Native perennial boasting large, flat-topped clusters of tine, brilliant yellow flowers from late spring to early summer. They are a valuable early season nectar source for bees and butterflies. It grows 12-36” tall and performs best in full sun to part shade. It has no serious pests or diseases. The caterpillars of the black swallowtail butterfly eat the foliage.
Sources:
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The Lady Bird Johnson Native Plant Database
Illinoiswildflowes.org
Missouri Botanical Garden
North Carolina Extension Plant Toolbox
Xerces Society
