During their September meeting, 16 members of the Great Bend Garden Club travelled to the Kansas Wetlands Education Center to hear about the progress of the center’s butterfly garden.
A few years ago, Pam Martin, an educator from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, began planting and seeding flowers and flowering vines for a butterfly garden in front of the Education Building at the center. The garden has grown both in size and in the varieties of flowers and vines. Martin has experimented with what has been successful to attract not only butterflies, but also bees and hummingbirds.
With a wealth of information at her fingertips, Martin named the varieties located in the garden along with information about which type of butterfly or other flying creature each attracts. She also shared information about two botanical centers, The Dillon Nature Center in Hutchinson and Dick’s Arboretum in Hesston which she visits during their spring and fall plant sales.
Members of the Garden Club will receive a list of some of the plants that were favorites during the tour. Some of the members were also treated to a demonstration of butterfly tagging which is done at the center for the state of Kansas.
During the business meeting, the club led by President Nancy Swafford made plans to winterize the Great Bend Cemetery Rose Garden and to replace one of the Memorial Plaques which has deteriorated. New yearbooks, prepared by Teresa Bachand, were given to members. Kay Hallenbeck served coffee and refreshments to begin the meeting.