Bring home the butterflies with the AGFC

April 11, 2018

Randy Zellers

Assistant Chief of Communications

LITTLE ROCK – The Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center is hosting a special workshop at 6:30 p.m. April 17 that’s all about the birds and the bees, literally.  Attendees will learn how to plant native plants to attract butterflies, birds and bees to their yards, and even receive high-quality butterfly-attracting plants to get started transforming their yards into a pollinator paradise.

With billions of dollars in agriculture depending on them to pollinate crops, birds and beneficial insects have a heavy load on their tiny shoulders. Sometimes people’s actions can inadvertently make their job even more difficult than it has to be. Feral cats, insecticides and conversion of good habitat into urban areas or single-species cropland have all taken their toll on pollinator populations throughout the world. Some of these impacts can be reversed without major changes to people’s habits; it just takes a little forethought and effort. Planting native wildflowers is an easy and attractive way to get started that anyone can do, no matter where they live. 

“The Frog Man” Tom Krohn will lead the presentation on creating a wildlife-friendly zone around your home. Krohn, regional coordinator for Frogwatch USA and member of the North Central Arkansas Chapter of The Audubon Society, is a certified Arkansas Master Naturalist with a passion for introducing people to the real world around them. 

“Tom has given two presentations on frogs and amphibians here at the nature center before and they were excellent,” said Lauren Marshall, education program specialist for the center. “He really has a passion for the outdoors and really inspires you with some of his knowledge.”

Marshall says the most attractive feature of the workshop to her is the availability of free seeds and plants for participants. 

“Tom is bringing native butterfly weed seeds and plants to give away, and you can hardly ever find these sorts of plants to add to your garden and flowerbed,” Marshall said. “And it’s absolutely free. We’ll even have the exhibit hall open for people attending the workshop so they can see the exhibits and take a look at our native garden outside as well.”

Call 501-907-0636 to register for the event. You can also visit the nature center’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/centralarkansasnaturecenter for a list of upcoming events.