Tropical Ranch Botanical Gardens
1905 SW Ranch Trail
Stuart, FL. 34997
772-283-5565

 

Butterfly Lecture, October 17, 2009

It seems many people have an interest in butterflies and butterfly gardening as witnessed by the large turn out at Tropical Ranch Botanical Gardens on Saturday. It was "standing room only" with almost 100 people attending our free lecture. Janelle Gearing and her daughter, Sarah Richeleau presented a beautiful display of photos taken in their garden along with tag-teaming us on everything we have always wanted to know about butterflies.

 
 

Janelle Gearing addresses the audience before her beautiful butterfly photos.

Sarah Richeleau, budding expert, assisted her mom, Janelle.

A private peek into a butterfly's world.
Sarah, at a young age, became fascinated with butterflies and her mom soon joined in to the extent that both are now "Butterfly Experts". They had samples of butterfly chrysalis, caterpillars, larval food sources and more. Because of the first day of cool weather, it was not possible to do a butterfly release as the butterflies need a warm sunny day to have a chance to live their short lives.

Many examples of equipment needed to be able to duplicate nature's conditions.

Our large, standing-room only, audience asked numberous questions and always received good answers.

Garden owner, Jim Haines, thanks Janelle and Sarah for their participation in our Garden Lecture Series.
As usual, a free raffle, was held and three lucky visitors went home with prizes. Unfortunately, this author was not able to obtain the name of one winner but the 2nd winner, Paula McGuinn, received a pink salvia plant, and our 3rd winner, Hedy Callahan, a frequent visitor, took home a plumbago plant. Both of these plants are excellent butterfly plants.
 

 

Lovely unidentified winner of a glass butterfly pendant.

Paula McGuinn had no doubt that she wanted that pink salvia and she took it home.

Hedy Callahan, a frequent visitor to the Garden, with her plumbago plant.
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