Texas Discovery Gardens wins grant to build monarch habitat across Dallas Parks
Monarchs and other pollinators will soon have 80 more acres of prime habitat across Dallas, thanks to a recent grant. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded $125,000 to Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park, an organic botanic garden whose mission is to teach adults and children easy ways to sustain the natural world.
The grant allows Texas Discovery Gardens staff and volunteers to work with the City of Dallas to create several small display gardens that attract pollinators, as well as restore acres of pollinator-friendly habitat in natural areas, in parks owned by the City. Parks on the docket include Harry S Moss, Samuell Farm, Keist Park, Crawford Memorial Park, and others. Display gardens are also being planted at City Hall and the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library. The project is slated to last 18 months.
Educational signs and brochures, as well as a flagship Native Butterfly Habitat already in place at Texas Discovery Gardens, will allow residents to take what they see and repeat in their own yards.
To attract butterflies and other pollinators, a mix of host and nectar plants is required, in addition to the removal of invasive species. Host plants feed butterfly larvae, or caterpillars. To attract monarchs, plant milkweed. Nectar plants feed the adult butterflies, as well as other pollinators like bees, wasps, hummingbirds and flies. Native nectar plants are well-adapted to the drought and heat conditions of North Texas, and require much less water and maintenance.
If interested in making a donation to assist Texas Discovery Gardens in monarch conservation, or for details on the program, contact Sarah Gardner, Director of Communications, at SGardner@TexasDiscoveryGardens.org.
About Texas Discovery Gardens
Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park is a year-round organic urban oasis filled with natural wonders for visitors of all ages. The Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium unveils the fascinating lives of butterflies. The Gardens feature spectacular native and adapted plants grown using sustainable methods that conserve water and protect the environment. Our EarthKeepers® Children’s Education Program offers year-round outdoor education. We’re the destination where children and adults discover and learn to sustain the natural world.
Texas Discovery Gardens is a nonprofit educational organization supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department.
