Gardening for Butterflies in the Anthropocene
Talk by Butterfly Expert Dr. Arthur Shapiro
Saturday, April 11 at 11:00 at Annie’s Annuals & Perennials Nursery: 740 Market Ave. Richmond, CA 94801 (888) 266-4370
Dr. Shapiro has spent the last 34 years collecting data on over 150 different butterfly species in his efforts to regularly monitor butterfly population trends in our changing climate. It’s no surprise that many butterfly species are in trouble and that so many of the plant communities they depend on have been destroyed by habit loss.
So, what can we do to help?
One answer is pretty simple – grow habitat plants! Butterflies in urban and suburban areas are now almost entirely dependent on us gardeners. If we want to foster our butterflies and encourage them to breed among us, we need to provide them with the necessary larval and adult resources. Come learn which plants are most likely to attract and sustain butterflies in our area – and how to plant a seasonal succession of blooms that serve the different species that appear at different times of year. Art will also address the issue of native plants vs. non-natives – with some insightful information that might surprise you!
Natural History Wanderings 
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