Residents aren’t the only ones attracted to two new pollinator gardens installed at Reed-Keppler Park located at 201 W. National Street and Don Earley Park, at 840 E. Washington Street. The gardens which are in their first year are taking shape, and are already attracting monarch butterflies.
Superintendent of Parks, Michael Gasparini came up with the idea of forming the gardens in the shape of large butterflies. Working closely with resident and Master Naturalist Judi Horsley, a native plant list was created which ensures blooms from spring through fall.
While the Park District is still waiting for a particular variety of milkweed to arrive for the Reed-Keppler garden, the Don Earley Park garden has been completed and is thriving.
Residents and visitors will enjoy watching the gardens mature and become a destination for rest, nourishment and breeding of monarchs, and other pollinators, on their migration journey.
