Last Chance Offered to Tour Private Monarch Butterfly Gardens

GOSHEN – It’s not too late to take in and enjoy the annual Monarch Butterfly migration, and what better place than right here in Cape May County. After all there are probably more butterfly gardens tucked in here than anywhere else in the country, and nobody knows these gardens better than Cape May’s own naturalist, gardener and author, Pat Sutton. Join Pat Sept. 19 through Sept. 21 (one, two or three days – your choice) as she leads her final set of tours of the season through a diverse array of County gardens from North to South. These private gardens will soon be attracting dozens of migrating monarchs. Pat will point out the importance of native plants, healthy insect populations, water sources and adequate cover in each unique garden.
Pat begins the tours at her own garden in Goshen (North Tour) Sept. 17 then will move to the Cape Island Tour on the 18th and finally the Mid-County Tour on the 19th. Choose just one tour or take advantage of the discounted rate by taking all three. Tours cost $35 each for New Jersey Audubon members and $45 each for non-members, or $90 for all three tours for members ($115 for non-members). Tours begins on site at 10:00 each day and last until 3:00; a bag lunch is recommended. Reservations are required because each tour is limited to 25 persons.
Before the tour it is recommended that you download, print and bring the NJ Audubon article: “How to Create A Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden,” and Pat’s own book, “Recommended Plantings to Attract Hummingbirds, Butterflies and Moths.” These publications are available at: http://www.njaudubon.org/sectionbackyardhabitat/createagarden.aspx and /recommendednectarplants.aspx.
When you register in person at the Nature Center, you’ll want to take a few minutes to take in and enjoy our new Monarch Butterfly exhibit. The amazing migration of the Monarch Butterfly is just one more reason the Cape May peninsula is such a unique and fascinating place to live and visit. This new exhibit will give you an inside look at this creature’s journey and the many challenges it must overcome along the way.