Butterfly declines worldwide may be in part due to loss of nectar plants. In the Gettysburg area, as elsewhere, nectar plants used by many butterfly species were historically more abundant than they now are. Our pollinator garden provides us the opportunity to understand this relationship while supporting the Painted Turtle Farm's pollinators.
In our first summer the pollinator garden attracted black swallowtail butterflies who laid eggs on host plants we had planted. Monarchs, meadow fritillaries, Eastern tiger swallowtails, silver-spotted skippers, eastern tailed blues and more were all seen using our nectar plants. Bumblebees, carpenter bees and hummingbirds were also visitors. You may find spring azures and the exotic cabbage white butterflies if you visit in April.
If you visit the pollinator garden, please take pictures of insects (or birds) you see using the plants in the garden to upload to iNaturalist. Your data will help us understand how best to support local pollinators.
