Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) [Photo by Joshua Cotten]
Green Cay Nature Center is hosting a program Sept. 7 to teach about local butterflies and how to attract them.
What: Butterfly Gardening
When: Sept. 7, 10 a.m.
Where: Green Cay Nature Center
Address: 12800 Hagen Ranch Road, west of Boynton Beach
Who: Palm Beach County Parks and Daggerwing Nature Center
South Florida is a haven for butterflies because of its warm climate and diverse habitats, including gardens, parks, nature reserves and coastal areas. Favorable weather all year enables a wide variety of butterfly species to thrive.
The most common butterflies include:
• The monarch, known for its distinctive orange-and-black wing pattern. The monarch passes through South Florida during its annual migration.
• The Gulf fritillary is striking orange with silver spots. Its caterpillars feed on passionflower vines.
• The zebra longwing has black wings with long white stripes and is Florida’s official state butterfly.
The site that became Green Cay Nature Center was used for agriculture, and much of it was drained and altered. The county embarked on a wetland restoration project to return the land to its natural state.
The Green Cay Nature Center opened to the public in 2004. It is designed to provide environmental education, promote conservation and offer recreational opportunities. The center’s raised boardwalk lets visitors explore the restored wetlands without disturbing the ecosystem.
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