Cover Image: Patty Bridges and Jan Henson at the Butterfly Memorial Garden
By Aundrea Tidwell, Village Pines Garden Club Publicity
Unless you frequent the Woodlands and the Ponce de Leon Center, you wouldn’t know there is a garden area behind the two buildings. The garden was originally designed in 2002 by Village Pines Garden Club member Yvonne Becker. (This is a factual correction to the information appearing in a recent Village Voice article.) Yvonne created the Pines’ beautification site as a memorial for deceased members. Benches were provided to sit and enjoy the beautiful flowers and seasonal plantings. The memorial project did receive an AFGC award for the club’s membership year 2002-2003.
Improvements in 2009 by co-chairs Myrna Russell and Millie Connelly included the installation of a decorative metal fence, stepping stones, and a rock retaining wall for a raised bed. Presently the garden is planted with native flowers, flowering vines, and assorted grasses, which attract all types of butterflies and other pollinators. Many of these plants can re-seed, requiring less maintenance other than deadheading and watering.
The Butterfly Memorial Garden is the second oldest Beautification Site maintained by the club. Careful maintenance and care of the garden have been provided by two Pines members, Patty Bridges, and Jan Henson, since 2013. This educational garden is part of the Village Pines Garden Club’s 50-year celebration for beautification service to the Village and is open to all residents and visitors. A visit to the butterfly garden is encouraged.
