The Endless Benefits of a Native Butterfly Prairie Garden...

Alas, some method to and reasoning behind the madness... The Maine East Butterfly Garden has found its stride! With over 75 different native Illinois plant species we have quite a welcome charging station for butterflies and other natives. We even have a few trees (Oak and Black Walnut) growing in there, thanks to the squirrels, as well as one state-listed endangered species. :O

Why are native prairie gardens so fabulous?

1. Educational value! Dissecting flowers and identifying the male and female parts is pretty fun. There are also lots of evolutionary adaptations to observe out there, symbiotic relationships between pollinators and host plant to analyze, soil comparisons to be made, historical uses to research, and cycles from seedling to flower to fruit to blog about. It's also a great place to learn about how wildlife biologists make observations and hypotheses about nature before embarking on a field study or experiment.

2. They provide a diverse range of habitat and food for our native critters, especially butterflies, some of whom migrate 2,000 miles to get down to their wintering grounds in the southern states or Mexico.

3. These plants are adapted to the winter and come back each year in the Spring, sometimes with their babies nearby!

4. Prairie plants have really deep roots that can reach up to 15 feet into the ground. This helps create a porous and deep, fertile soil that absorbs way more water. This means you don't really have to water the plants! It also means that there is less runoff of water into rivers, creeks, and even homes with big storms. Xeriscaping - gardening or landscaping techniques that reduce the need for watering. Save money, flood less!

5. Huge variation in their heights, flower color, leaf sizes/shapes, & bloom time. Keeps things pretty and unique from spring to fall.

6. Native plants are adapted to resist the local pests & diseases that can typically destroy non-native ornamental plants.

7. Once established, very little weeding necessary! And there is never really a need for use of fertilizers or pesticides, as there typically is with ornamental gardens.

8. Lots of fun facts regarding these plants' medicinal and general uses by Native Americans.

9. Inspiration - painters, photographers, creative writers, poets, & musicians welcome. Maybe we should get some grant money for some benches!

10. I can't end on 9... hmm... I know! Gets me off my computer and back to my roots. Calming & therapeutic to take pictures, pull weeds, observe the species interactions, and take note of the variety of cycles with the plants and their pollinators.
Know of more? Feel free to comment!

~ Ms. Childress