More than 400 people visited the Demonstration Gardens of Fort Bend County Master Gardeners on May 3 to participate in the Butterfly Celebration.
After stormy weather late in the week, Saturday temperatures were welcoming if a little chilly at first helping to make the celebration, representing more than a year of planning, a success. One-hundred Master Gardeners shared their love of gardening with the community, said Catherine Pennington, who co-chaired the event with Mary Parkhouse.
Master Gardeners talked about pollinator gardens, monarch migration and rainwater harvesting. They helped children create garden crafts, blow bubbles and get their faces and hands painted. Youths also participated in a scavenger hunt.
“Master Gardeners were friendly and well-prepared to answer questions and explain in-depth facts about butterflies and other pollinators, as well as the plants that attract them,” said Pennington. “Our 10 theme Demonstration Gardens were in pristine condition,” she added. A number of visitors were unaware that the gardens are open to the public to tour anytime and that Master Gardeners are in the gardens most Wednesday mornings, willing and able to answer questions.
A team of Master Gardeners raised more than 1,000 milkweed starter plants that were sold at $5 each or 3 for $10, and visitors huddled around the passalong plant table to take home a variety of free potted plants donated by Master Gardeners. Seed packets with QR codes leading to plant planting information were also given away and daylilies were packaged up as giveaways.
Volunteers from the Fort Bend Beekeepers Association and Prairie View A&M University shared their expertise about bees and aquaponics and hydroponics.
Monarch Ambassadors carried 5-foot kites or wore Monarch costumes to add a special touch to the event and Master Gardeners created a special treat for visitors by with their bubble-blowing demonstration.
Master Gardeners last held a Butterfly Celebration in 2019. The event scheduled for 2020 was canceled because of COVID-19.
Photos by Jean Trevino
Master Gardeners Chinnu Hardikar Meher-Homji and Jean Trevino dressed for the Butterfly Celebration.
Master Gardener Deborah Birge of Richmond talked with visitors about the new orchard and Joseph (Jody) Taylor, Fort Bend County Extension Agent-Horticulture, talked about bees and served as a Monarch ambassador.
Visitors to the Butterfly Celebration crowded the walkway and the milkweed table in the Demonstration Gardens in Rosenberg.