BUTTERFLY GARDEN TOUR

The Butterfly Garden dates back to the summer of 1996 and was the first garden designed and constructed by Horticulture Curator Bob Chastain. Visitors can experience the garden while walking the path or sitting in the swing. The initial planting included very few host plants because of the abundant native larval material in the vicinity. In the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Horticulture Conceptual Plan it is stated that, “Mowed grass and annual beds are not in the spirit of nature education and should play a minor role in our development. The predominate plantings will be perennials and woody plants and will de-emphasize water thirsty annuals.” For the summer 2002 season, annuals were placed into these beds to provide more color and interpretive opportunities to correspond to the adjacent temporary summer exhibit the Butterfly Experience.

The old preformed pond-liner water feature in this garden was recently replaced by this easier to maintain whiskey barrel fountain. Existing willows and cottonwoods that border the garden have presented a challenge by drawing most of the available soil moisture away from the herbaceous plants, creating a dry shade situation. Therefore, the central raised beds are more densely planted and attractive to butterflies. The lower level of the raised bed behind the swing was created in the process of erecting the greenhouse and contains Verbena bonariensis and Rudbeckia hirta. Other Rudbeckia varieties are planted throughout the garden. Perennial Butterfly Weed is hardy to zone 4 and serves as both host and nectar source for some butterfly species including the Monarch. Joe-Pye Weed, or Eupatorium purpureum, is hardy to zone 4 and can reach heights of five to seven feet, but maintains around three to four feet in our garden. Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam,’ recently named Perennial Plant of the Year, is slow to emerge in the spring, but displays quarter-sized pale yellow flowers all summer that make it well worth the wait. Yarrow is another hardy perennial that attracts butterflies. Here, “Moonshine” is planted because the gray foliage is attractive and it is reported to be less invasive than many other varieties.Alliumspecies, especially the giant variety ‘Ivory Queen,’ have drawn attention because most people don’t expect to find them in a butterfly garden.

Shrubs in this garden include Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess’, which grows two to three feet tall and blooms pale pink flowers in mid- to late-summer and the Caryopteris False Spireas. Caryopteris clandonensis “Blue Mist’ and “Dark Knight’ are the most popular and have blue to purple flowers that last most of the summer. This plant is hardy to 9,000 feet, but may need to be pruned to the ground each winter. Beware that bees are fond of the false spireas and it is not recommended to plant this near a deck or main entry.Last, but certainly not least, is the Butterfly Bush. Over 45 cultivars of Buddleia davidii are being grown in the United States. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo relief primarily on ‘Nanho Blue’, ‘Nanho Purple’, ‘Black Knight’, and‘Royal Red’, although nearly ten different types have been planted on grounds.Along with Pincushion Flower, Penta, Verbena bonariensis, and Lantana, the Butterfly Bush was discovered to be the best (longest bloom and most frequently visited) nectar source inside the greenhouse.For more information about constructing your own butterfly garden and a list of host and nectar plants visit http://www.cmzoo.org/createbutterflygarden.html