Greensburg, Ligonier programs emphasize importance of monarch butterflies
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With its distinctive orange and black markings, the monarch butterfly is easily recognized as it flits about the garden.
Monarchs serve an important role as pollinators, as they feed on the nectar of many different types of flowers. They also are significant in various religious and cultural traditions.
The Hopi butterfly dance is a petition for rain, good health and long life. Blackfoot people associate butterflies with sleep and dreaming. Butterflies play a part in the Tohono O’odham creation story.
Mexican folklore says that monarchs arriving during the Day of the Dead celebration are the souls of deceased relatives returning to offer comfort to the living.
In Christian tradition, the butterfly is a symbol of rebirth.
Due to loss of habitat, climate change and use of pesticides, monarch population has dropped precipitously in recent years. In December 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife determined that the monarch is a candidate for possible future listing under the Endangered Species Act.
These upcoming programs will celebrate the monarch and provide attendees with information on its importance to Earth’s ecology:
Butterfly releases
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Aug. 14 in Greensburg Garden Center’s Lefevre Butterfly Garden, behind the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center, 951 Old Salem Road.
Butterflies are free for this year, thanks to funding from the Second Chance Fund of the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County. The fund is providing for 200 butterflies, available until all have been reserved, said garden center President Carla Rusnica. Reservations are available by calling 724-837-0245.
The event will include a marketplace of butterfly-related items and displays of books and other educational materials. Hot dogs will be sold, and Turner Dairy Farms will provide free lemonade.
Diana Sanner of Murrysville will give a short puppet program on the monarch life cycle. Sanner will have butterfly cutouts attached to sticks for children to color.
“Her talk is geared toward children, but adults will enjoy it, too,” Rusnica said.
Penn State Master Gardeners will be available in the garden to give tips on growing pollinator plants to attract butterflies.
The garden, which has a new waterfall feature, “is spectacular this year,” Rusnica said.
People who don’t want to participate in the release also are welcome to attend. And there’s a trick to getting butterflies to alight on you once they’re released — just dab a little vanilla behind your ears, Rusnica said.
Details: greensburggardencenter.net
Monarchs, Milkweed and More
1-4 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art-Ligonier Valley, off Route 711 south of Ligonier.
The family friendly event is designed to educate all ages on various pollinators and native flora.
Penn State Master Gardener Patti Schildkamp will discuss monarch butterflies, nectar plants and more. Ecologist Timothy Savisky will talk about insects that utilize milkweed during a tour of the grounds with SAMA-Ligonier VAlley gardener Anne Clark. Penguin Court’s Melissa Reckner will highlight the Monarch butterfly life cycle and will tag some butterflies to monitor their journey.
Children’s activities will include art-making and planting milkweed and other pollinator plants that they can take home.
A group of area plein air painters will offer works for sale that were painted previously and on-site during the event.
Finalists in a photography contest hosted by Penguin Court and Westmoreland Pollinator Partners will be on display in the museum and awards will be presented during the afternoon.
The event, presented in collaboration with Penguin Court and Brandywine Conservancy, is free to attend, although the museum is encouraging a donation of $10 per family in support of the museum’s gardens.
Registration is encouraged, but not required, to help museum staff prepare for the number of visitors.
Details: 724-238-6015 or sama-art.org