The Secret Garden celebrates with two weekends of family fun
The beautiful Gulf Fritillary butterfly is the focus of The Secret Garden's Butterfly Fest, Sept. 14-15 and 21-22. Courtesy The Secret Garden
Love butterflies? It’s time to wing it to The Secret Garden in Elk Grove.
The butterflies – specifically Gulf Fritillary butterflies – annually return to this destination nursery during their migration, attracted by their favorite host plant: passionflower.
Each September, The Secret Garden celebrates their comeback with its annual “Butterfly Fest.” And after the large crowd that turned out last year, The Secret Garden decided to double the celebration with two weekends devoted to butterfly fun.
On Sept. 14-15 and Sept. 21-22, Butterfly Fest will entertain and inform about these important and beautiful pollinators. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day; admission is free.
“Mark your calendars for a fluttering good time at The Secret Garden's Annual Butterfly Fest this September!” say the organizers. “Due to last year's incredible turnout, we're excited to announce an extended celebration over two weekends.
“Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of butterflies and pollinators at our local nursery. Every year, The Secret Garden becomes a haven for Gulf Fritillary butterflies during their migration, attracted to our lush passionvine. Join us as we honor these winged wonders and delve into the importance of pollinators in our ecosystem.”
At 11 a.m each day, take a guided tour of the butterfly’s life cycle with a visit to see hungry caterpillars in action as well as mature butterflies.
Designed for the whole family, the fest offers free kid activities such as face painting. A coffee cart will offer beverages. Or visitors can enjoy a scoop of Leatherby’s ice cream.
To coax more butterflies to your landscape, take home some perennials including such butterfly favorites as California native milkweed and passionflower. (They’ll be on sale for 15% off.)
Butterflies are most active in the cooler morning hours, so get there early to enjoy the show.
The Secret Garden is located at 8450 W. Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove.
For details and directions: https://www.secretgarden-online.com/.
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Garden Checklist for week of Oct. 6
Get ready to get to work! Cooler weather is headed our way mid-week.
* Clean up the summer vegetable garden and compost disease-free foliage.
* Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
* October is the best month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials.
* Before planting, add a little well-aged compost and bone meal to the soil, but hold off on other fertilizers until spring. Keep the transplants well-watered (but not wet) for the first month as they become settled.
* Dig up corms and tubers of gladioli, dahlias and tuberous begonias after the foliage dies. Clean and store in a cool, dry place.
* Treat azaleas, gardenias and camellias with chelated iron if leaves are yellowing between the veins.
* Now is the time to plant seeds for many flowers directly into the garden, including cornflower, nasturtium, nigella, poppy, portulaca, sweet pea and stock.
* Plant seeds for radishes, bok choy, mustard, spinach and peas.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Set out cool-weather bedding plants, including calendula, pansy, snapdragon, primrose and viola.
* Reseed and feed the lawn. Work on bare spots.
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