The Douglas County Butterfly Trail is registered with the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail. The Douglas County Master Gardeners Extension Volunteers prepare all eleven gardens for the Monarch’s impending arrival every spring. With its distinct orange, black, and white wings, the Monarch butterfly is one of the most recognized American butterflies.
Visit Extension.UGA.Edu for additional information.
This garden was unveiled during the 2016 Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival. The garden at Woodie Fite contains Fennel, Butterfly Weed, Milkweed, Passion Vine, and other host plants for Monarchs, Swallowtails, and Gulf Fritillary Butterflies. Nectar plants are Autumn Joy Sedum, Black-eyed Susan, Salvia, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Lantana, Butterfly bushes, Zinnias, Liatris, Verbena, and Coneflowers.
Initially designed by Gail Woody, Janet Deal, and Marjorie Stansel, Marjorie Stansel currently maintains the Woodie Fite garden.
The garden was designed by Randy Cooper, a former City of Douglasville Arborist, in 2008. The garden contains host plants for the Monarch, the Black Swallowtail butterflies, and many nectar plants.
The Children’s Garden at the Selman Drive Library is another stop on the Butterfly Trail. This garden is currently maintained by Master Gardener Debra Saturday. Container gardens add to the in-the-ground plants that populate the space. Butterfly weed, milkweed, and fennel are host plants available at the Children’s Garden, and many nectar plants bring bees and butterflies to the area.
Master Gardener Karen Hubenet started the initial work on this garden. Today, Master Gardeners Laura Lieberman and Morris Ellison take care of the garden.
Freedom Island is an area where people see butterflies visiting plants by the side of the road. There are several nectar plants on the island, such as Black-eyed Susans, lamb’s ear, butterfly bush, abelia, and Autumn Joy sedum.
Tax Office Annex/Gail Woody Garden was created in 2018. Gail Woody, a master gardener, master naturalist, and certified arborist, planted host plants for Monarchs, Gulf Fritillary, and Swallowtails. There are coneflowers, Liatris, Black-eyed Susans, bee balm, and other nectar plants. With Gail Woody’s retirement, the Douglas County Master Gardeners now maintain the
garden.
The Douglas County Museum of History & Art Butterfly Garden was created in 2017. This garden contains lantana, abelia, coneflowers, Black-eyed Susans, Mexican petunia, hibiscus, and butterfly bush.
The National Wildlife Federation’s Mayor’s Monarch Pledge was signed in 2017. This location is known for attracting Monarchs. This garden contains butterfly weed and nectar plants: lantana, vitex, abelia, and Black-eyed Susans. The garden is maintained by Keep Douglasville Beautiful and Douglas County Master Gardeners.
The original Extension Office Pollinator Garden was designed and installed as a 4H project by Rose Livingston. In 2019 the garden was expanded by Master Gardener Pat Sendelbach and her husband, Roger. Many of the plants came from the local Master Gardener greenhouse. Coneflowers, Black-eyed Susans, black and blue salvia, and passion vine for the Gulf Fritillary are among the many plants in the garden.
In 2001, the Douglas County Master Gardeners realized a need for butterflies and bees to help pollinate the vegetable garden. Blooming vegetables, zinnias, lantana, peanut butter shrub, and marigolds provide nectar for all butterflies.
