If you are inspired to create a garden for butterflies after visiting some of these demonstration gardens, check the Butterfly Gardening Resources Page for an up-to-date list of plant sales and local nurseries which carry butterfly plants.
The Butterfly Habitat Garden is located on the east side of the building, along 10th Street between the Mall and Constitution Avenue, and continues along the Mall side of the museum. This garden is perhaps the most highly recommended in the area. In spite of its urban location, some 20 butterfly species have been recorded there; nevertheless, this is not a garden to visit expecting to see large numbers of butterflies. But as an educational display, it is excellent. The garden includes simulations of 5 distinct habitats. It features mostly native plants, with an emphasis on nectar and host plants for local butterflies, and has excellent signs identifying plants and providing accurate information about butterflies in general. Metro: Federal Triangle or Smithsonian (Mall exit).
You can take an interactive tour of the butterfly garden. A map of the garden's layout numbers most of the plants; clicking these reveals more about the individual plant, its usefulness to butterflies, and sometimes facts about butterfly species that have been observed nectaring or egg-laying in the Habitat Garden.
The Natural History Museum opened a permanent indoor butterfly pavilion and accompanying exhibit Butterflies + Plants: Partners in Evolution on February 15, 2008. Open daily from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Prices: Adults $6; Seniors $5.50; Children $4.50. Tuesdays are free. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance online at http://butterflies.si.edu, or by phone at 202.633.4629. Tickets are timed at 15-minute intervals from 10:15 a.m. until 5:15 p.m.
Two other nearby downtown gardens are also worthy of a visit. The Mary Livingston Ripley Garden is almost directly across the Mall from the Habitat Garden, between the round Hirshorn museum and the castle-like Arts & Industries building. While not specifically designed for wildlife, most plants in this excellent garden are labeled with detailed information, and it's a great place to see new and unusual plants.
Bartholdi Park is located across Independence Avenue from the U.S. Botanic Gardens. The park has been officially certified as Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. A large corner of the garden (near the administration building) is planted with native plants to attract butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.
The National Arboretum is a 446-acre oasis in an urban environment and includes some excellent butterfly habitat. Best places to visit are the Herb Garden (just to the right of the visitors center), the Prairie Meadow (across the road from the columns), and the borders around the Children's Garden, which include plantings for butterflies and a hidden host plant garden surrounded by butterfly bush. There are some signs identifying plants in the Herb Garden, but there is no information on butterfly nectar or food plants. Visitor entrances are located on New York Avenue and R Street.
The Audubon Naturalist Society has several meadows at its Woodend headquarters. Meadows are excellent butterfly habitat; viewing planned meadows is a good way to see what can be accomplished, as well as the challenges encountered with their creation and maintenance.
The main butterfly meadow is located behind the mansion and is visible on your left as you drive up the main driveway. There is also a Joe-Pye meadow below the main meadow. All meadows have mowed paths either on their edges or through them to help facilitate close-up observations. A large covered sign by the main meadow has pictures of some common local butterflies as well as a list of butterfly species that have been recorded on the property--to date, 45 species. Individual plants are not identified. A big plus is the ANS bookstore, which carries a full selection of books on all manner of nature-related subjects (a great place to look for butterfly gardening books!) The grounds are open from dawn to dusk; restroom facilities are not available on weekends.
Black Hill Visitor Center
The Black Hill Visitor Center features several areas for butterflies, including a 1-acre meadow containing native host and nectar plants for butterflies; a new deer-fenced, raised-bed butterfly garden with 21 plant species; a deer-fenced, raised-bed Monarch garden, with milkweeds for rearing caterpillars and goldenrods for providing nectar for fall-migrating Monarchs; and a host plant garden with large clumps of Wild Senna, Turtlehead, New England Aster, and Butterfly Weed. There are signs on the gardens and the meadow.
Brookside Gardens
Brookside has an excellent annual indoor live butterfly house called Wings of Fancy; it is open May through September. In addition, Brookside Gardens has an outdoor Butterfly Garden with both nectar and host plants such as Butterfly Bush, Tithonia, Bloodflower, and Turtlehead. It is located immediately behind the Conservatories (but, as of 2000, was not listed on the park maps which are available in the building by the Conservatories). Some plants are labeled; some aren't. There is usually an excellent brochure in a clear box within the garden with information on butterfly gardening and the plants in the garden. There are several larger signs with basic information about the butterfly life cycle.
Besides the butterfly garden, the Perennial Garden (to the left of the Rose Garden) has many excellent butterfly nectar plants, including Sedum 'Autumn Joy,' New York Ironweed, Joe-Pye Weed, and various Asters. Lantana has been used as a groundcover throughout the gardens, attracting many skippers.
Use the second entrance to the Conservatories if you wish to park near the Butterfly Garden.
Clearwater Nature Center
The butterfly garden is located in front of the nature center fronting on Thrift Road. Visitors can park in the lower nature center parking lot and follow the marked trail to the garden. Persons with disabilities can park across the street on the side of the road directly across from the garden. Both host and nectar plants are present and labeled. The garden is especially rich in host plants and includes pussytoes, several milkweed species, asters, thistle, senna, violets, and herbs. Monarchs raised on the milkweed are tagged by the nature center. The number and variety of butterflies attracted tends to be very good; uncommon species such as the Sleepy Orange are often seen here.
Hidden behind Jerry's Ford and the Salvation Army off Little River Turnpike, this beautiful garden park includes a Backyard Wildlife Habitat Garden, a small demonstration meadow, and the Virginia Native Plant Garden. Additionally, the Parking Lot Border and the Manor House Vista flower beds are often heavily planted with butterfly attractors like indigo spires salvia, Asters, Verbena bonariensis, and Lantana. The Backyard Wildlife Habitat Garden is adjacent to the cutting garden and the Townhouse Gardens (to the right of the horticulture center below the greenhouses); look for the eastern red cedar arbor and small pond. The demonstration meadow is also in this area. Other butterfly-attracting gardens include the Swale Garden and the Mixed Border.
The Wildlife Garden is bursting with stunning plants. Metalphoto labels were placed in the Wildlife Garden in early summer 2001. The information sheet about butterfly/moth gardening is available on-line (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/infosheets/butterfliesandmoths.pdf) as well as at the front desk in the horticulture center. It details host plants and the butterflies that use them, and the list of nectar plants is divided into helpful categories such as Medium-sized to Large Deciduous Trees and Perennials.
The Virginia Native Plant Garden (VNPG) winds through a forested area, but sunny areas at the top such as the Native Mixed Border and Native Perennial Border include many plants attractive to pollinators. Three detailed lists of plants of interest in the VNPG by season are also now available on the web and in the Green Spring library, and the plant interest sheets will seasonally be in the mailbox in the VNPG.
Look for the park driveway off Braddock Road, across from the Pinecrest Golf course.
The Butterfly Gardens are located around the pond to the right of the nature center and are organized into sections such as host plants and nectar plants. Both are still under construction or revision. The host plant garden is especially well-labeled. This site gets quite a bit of shade, which is problematic because most nectar plants are sun lovers. However, a surprising number of plants have been established here, especially natives such as Joe-Pye Weed and Ironweed. Mornings brings the most sun to the butterfly areas; common sightings include Pearl Crescents and Least Skippers. This is a great place to visit for ideas if your yard is also very shady. Signs are sometimes missing due to vandalism. There is also a meadow north of the nature center.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Please note these admission prices: from April through October, the following fees apply: 6 and under—Free; 7-17—$2.50; 18-54—$4; 55 and over—$2.50. An annual pass is $25. This 95-acre horticultural park includes a butterfly garden and herb garden, which both attract many butterflies. A map of the grounds is available in the Visitor Center. The butterfly garden is located behind the Atrium, overlooking Lake Caroline. The"Butterfly Garden" sign faces the lake, so it is not visible if the garden is approached from the Visitor Center. The temporary deer-fencing which had negatively affected many of the beautiful display gardens has been removed; taking its place is a 10-foot fence around the entire perimeter of the park. The butterfly garden has both nectar and host plants, such as Bloodflower, Joe-Pye Weed, Coneflower, Highbush Blueberry, and Dutchman's Pipevine. Most plants have signs. The butterfly garden is wheelchair-accessible.
WABC members have been working with Meadowlark to improve habitat and butterfly diversity, and members often hold regular walks here in season (check the Events page for details).
"The Master" wants to hear from you if:
The National Museum of Natural History
10th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20560
202-357-2700
Updated September 30, 2008.
United States National Arboretum
3501 New York Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002-1958
202-245-2726
On weekdays, the closest Metrorail subway stop is Stadium Armory Station on the Blue and Orange lines. Transfer to the B2 Metrobus; disembark the bus on Bladensburg Road at Rand Street, just past the Arboretum sign on the right. Walk back to sign at R Street and walk down R Street 2 blocks to Arboretum entrance. Click here to see the schedule.
Audubon Naturalist Society
8940 Jones Mill Road
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
301-652-9188
Black Hill Regional Park
20926 Lake Ridge Dr.
Boyds, MD 20841
301-916-0220
1800 Glenallan Avenue
Wheaton, MD 20902
301-949-8230
Note: Brookside utilizes deer-control fences along the perimeter of the grounds. Drive up to the closed gates and stop, and they will open automatically.
Cosca Regional Park
11000 Thrift Road
Clinton, MD 20735
301-297-4575
Green Spring Gardens Park
4603 Green Spring Road
Alexandria, VA 22312
703-642-5173
Revised October 28, 2007.
Long Branch Nature Center
625 S. Carlin Springs Road
Arlington, VA 22204
703-228-6535
Full disclosure: Long Branch is the meeting place for most of WABC's regular monthly meetings.
9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court
Vienna, VA
703-255-3631
Updated October 28, 2007.
E-mail the Webmaster at: LCFarron@cs.com
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Coneflower image provided by ArtByCheryl.com
Page updated September 30, 2008