The Urquhart Butterfly Garden website is off to a really late start this year, however we hope to make up for lost time with more postings and more photos than ever.   

Unfortunately we are unable to hold our usual Summer Series due to COVID-19, but we do hope to hold a modified Photo Contest – watch this website for further information.

We have been gardening since early April, getting the garden ready, pruning, separating perennials, removing invasive species and generally cleaning up.

We usually grow many of our annuals from nursery stock, but last year a decision was made to ask two local organic growers to grow plants from seed.  We also overwintered the Lantana and some of the Salvia Black and Blue.  The Lantana was planted at the UBG on June 5 and should be successful, but the Salvia did not fare so well.  This all means that many of our plants will not flower until later in the season.

We hope to see you at the Garden, and please share your photos with us!

A Free Workshop on Saturday August 17, 11 am
Brenda Van Ryswyk is an expert on dragonflies, and she is coming back this year
by popular demand!

Photo by Michelle Sharp UBG August 2019

Dragonflies have lived on earth for 300 Million years, and during this time have
honed their extraordinary skills, which include being able to see in all directions at
the same time, and the ability to hover like a helicopter.
Dragonflies and Damselflies are fascinating to watch, with their extraordinary
displays of speed and agility in the air, and some species can fly for many
thousands of miles. However, don't be deceived by their agility and beauty,
because they are also very powerful hunters, and gobble up scores of smaller
insects as they zip through the air.
This free workshop on August 17 th at 11 am is suitable for young and old.
– Please bring a chair
–  The workshop will be cancelled in the event of rain
–  Lots of free parking and on a bus route
The Summer Series 2019 is funded by the Dougher Fund of the Hamilton
Community Foundation
Contact:
Joanna Chapman, Coordinator, Urquhart Butterfly Garden,
Phone 905-627-8917
email: jchapman@295.ca
Website: urquhartbutterfly.com

Guided Butterfly & Moth Identification Walk
& Plant Sale
Matt Mills
Saturday August 10, 11am
Accomplished Naturalist Matt Mills, will be pointing out all the interesting
butterflies and day-flying moths, that can be seen at this time of year. Matt’s guided
interpretive walk will be on Saturday August 10th at 11 am.

“The Urquhart Butterfly Garden changes from day to day, and with the changes
come different butterflies seeking their host or nectar plants” Matt said recently
when chatting, and he pointed out that the Buddleia is now in flower which attracts
many nectar seekers.When choosing nectar plants it is important to be selective, because some flowers look terrific but do not provide the nectar that butterflies are seeking.
This is especially true of hybridized and treated plants. Matt grows many native
plants from seed which he has carefully collected and all are ‘butterfly friendly’.
Following the Workshop there will be a ‘cash only’ plant sale.
The guided walk takes about an hour. It is recommended that you bring a chair, and
wear a hat. The event is cancelled if it rains.
The Summer Series is funded by the Dougher Fund of the Hamilton Community
Foundation.
Contact:
Joanna Chapman
Phone: 905-627-8917
email: jchapman@295.ca

UBG Summer Poster 2019

We are off to a late start this year! However, on one of the few really nice warm days, about two weeks ago, there were lots of American Ladies laying eggs on Pearly Everlasting, a couple of Painted Ladies on Thistle, and Red Admirals egg laying on Stinging Nettles. With all this rain, it seems unlikely for the eggs to have survived, certainly there are no signs of caterpillars, yet.

You may have noticed a new person working at the Urquhart butterfly Garden, her name is Alicia (Ali). She comes with great training in gardening and permi-culture, and will be taking on a lot of work for the garden this year. Alicia will be keeping the daily records up to date and posting photos among many other things.

Let’s hope for sunnier days and lots of butterflies.

Take a look at our two newly posted photos by Michelle Sharp, taken this past winter in the garden.

~Joanna

Photo: American Lady on Pearly Everlasting

https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8726045-early-sightings-of-monarch-butterflies-down-in-dundas/