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Summerfield garden flutters to new heights

The Gardeners Out East club held its butterfly garden dedication Saturday.


  • By Jessica Salmond
  • | 6:00 a.m. October 28, 2015
  • East County
  • Neighbors
  • Share

With a few flits of its delicate, colorful wings, a yellow butterfly tiptoed off of a finger and took flight.

The Gardeners Out East club held the dedication of its butterfly garden at Summerfield Saturday. The event included booths from different organizations throughout the area, including Florida Native Plant Society, University of Florida Extension and the Suncoast Beekeepers Association.

At the end of the morning, everyone was given a butterfly to release. 

Valerie Stolte watches a butterfly prepare for liftoff.
Valerie Stolte watches a butterfly prepare for liftoff.
Chris Culp with the Braden River Branch Library shows off her butterfly puppet.
Chris Culp with the Braden River Branch Library shows off her butterfly puppet.
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School brought butterfly-themed cupcakes.
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School brought butterfly-themed cupcakes.
Tara Haight and Dawn Wishiewski with Pinnacle Academy test out the watershed model with Ross Peterson from Florida Friendly Landscaping.
Tara Haight and Dawn Wishiewski with Pinnacle Academy test out the watershed model with Ross Peterson from Florida Friendly Landscaping.
Ross Peterson with Florida Friendly Landscaping points out the drainage of fertilizer into a water source in this water shed model.
Ross Peterson with Florida Friendly Landscaping points out the drainage of fertilizer into a water source in this water shed model.
This butterfly took a break before flying away.
This butterfly took a break before flying away.
The Gardeners Out East club
The Gardeners Out East club
Pinnacle Academy and Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School submitted drawings for the dedication.
Pinnacle Academy and Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School submitted drawings for the dedication.
Lynne Haf from Country Club East talks with Erica Timmerman with the Florida Native Plant Society, Serenoa Chapter.
Lynne Haf from Country Club East talks with Erica Timmerman with the Florida Native Plant Society, Serenoa Chapter.
Norma Kisida and her granddaughter, Ella Myer
Norma Kisida and her granddaughter, Ella Myer
These butterflies were shipped to the Gardeners Out East club. They are kept cooled, and once they warm up, they wake up and fly off.
These butterflies were shipped to the Gardeners Out East club. They are kept cooled, and once they warm up, they wake up and fly off.
Tallea Kasper and Calista Carroll volunteered with the Gilbert W. McNeal PTO.
Tallea Kasper and Calista Carroll volunteered with the Gilbert W. McNeal PTO.
The butterfly garden is located behind the Summerfield Information   Center.
The butterfly garden is located behind the Summerfield Information Center.
T.J. and Florey Miller chat with Kent Bontrager with the Suncoast Beekeepers Association about backyard beekeeping.
T.J. and Florey Miller chat with Kent Bontrager with the Suncoast Beekeepers Association about backyard beekeeping.
Valerie Stolte, a Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary student, colors in a butterfly.
Valerie Stolte, a Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary student, colors in a butterfly.

 

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