The Northaven Woods Garden Club and the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department are working together to establish a butterfly-hummingbird garden in the Northaven Woods Park.
Northaven Woods Garden Club President Debbie Burkes wrote in a press release that the location for the new garden was tilled up by city workers on Nov. 13. The garden will be for the “beauty, enjoyment and education of its visitors,” she said.
“We want to make it so kids will come play in the park,” Burkes said. “They’ve got some nice swings. And have family picnics. And schools can bring their classes to come and look. It’ll just be an outdoor experience.”
The Northaven Woods Community Park includes six acres at the end of Wisteria Street and Marguerite Street. It includes a playground area, a walking path, a picnic area and more.
Recreation Director Greg Lewis said the department has been working on improving the area for some time now, including setting out new benches and replacing picnic tables. The new garden will add another element to “sprucing up” the park.
“It provides a learning environment for children as well as adults,” Lewis said. “I think it provides some tranquility while you’re sitting out there. If you’re at the park, you’ll get to sit down and observe nature actually close to you.”
Lewis said an exact timeline for the butterfly-hummingbird garden’s establishment is not currently available, as recent rainfall has made progress slow. Once it is completed, he said, there will be a grand opening to celebrate.
Burkes said the club has completed a few projects in the park in the past, including planting a tree on Arbor Day, donating a bench and planting flowers in the spring and fall. But the butterfly-hummingbird garden is the club’s biggest park project yet.
Burkes said the new butterfly-hummingbird garden will include “host” plants, which will allow caterpillars to eat and grow in the garden, along with other flowering plants to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The Lowndes County Master Gardeners are also assisting with the garden’s design, she said.
“They have the plants that support the lifecycle of the butterfly, so we’re going to kind of follow their lead,” Burkes said. “Plus, these plants also attract hummingbirds. So we’re getting flowering plants, shrubs and a whole bunch of stuff.”
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