Information on how to create gardens that offer more hospitable habitat for butterflies will be presented during a free University of Nebraska–Lincoln Garden Friends lecture on Feb. 28.
The talk, “Gardening for Butterflies,” will be led by Lucinda Mays, horticulturist for Chadron State College. Mays will offer a practical look at improving habitat for meeting the needs of these important pollinators in all stages of the butterfly life cycle.
The talk, which is free and open to the public, is 2 p.m. Feb. 28 in the Nebraska Union Auditorium.
Butterflies are important and endangered pollinators in the wild and home landscapes. Predators like birds and other animals, herbicides and pesticides, weather and habitat loss all threaten beautiful and useful butterflies. Home gardeners can provide safe islands for butterflies through plant choices and horticultural practices.
Mays has worked in public horticulture for more than 30 years. She was assistant director of Kalmia Gardens in South Carolina; horticulture curator at Callaway Gardens in Georgia, and for 10 years hosted segments of the popular PBS television program, “The Victory Garden.” She has worked with Iowa Public Television to create, “Iowa’s Favorite Gardens.” For several years, Mays has reviewed books for the American Horticulture Society, written gardening articles for Southern Living magazine, and contributed garden columns to the Chadron Record newspaper.
Mays grew up in Buffalo County, Nebraska, and returned to her home state for work and family in 1998.
She is proud that Chadron State College arboretum received the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s Affiliate Site Award, presented to recognize public gardens that “demonstrate excellence in collection development, maintenance practice and community engagement.”
A reception with free refreshments will follow the lecture. In case of inclement weather, the lecture will occur April 3 in the same location. For more information, click here.
Mays’ lecture is presented by UNL Garden Friends. Founded in 1992, UNL Garden Friends supports and encourages the goals and projects of UNL’s Botanical Gardens and Arboretum.
