Butterflyway Project Belleville Area

12/01/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Am8vtJ1pj/

A “clean” winter garden might look neat to us, but it removes the very things wildlife depends on to survive the cold.
Uncut plants hold seeds that feed birds, stems shelter native bees, and leaf litter protects countless insects waiting for spring.

When we tidy everything up, we unintentionally remove their food, their homes, and their hiding places.
Leaving your garden standing through winter is one of the simplest, most impactful ways to help nature right outside your door. 🌱❄️🐦

11/14/2025

10/16/2025

10/15/2025

November 3rd: Daylight Saving Time ends.
You get an extra hour of sleep. I get killed on the highway.
Here's why:
When clocks "fall back," your evening commute happens at dusk—exactly when deer are most active.
The Facts:

Deer-vehicle collisions SPIKE 300% the week after DST ends
October-November = deer mating season (bucks are distracted, reckless)
1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions per year in the US
200 human deaths, 26,000 injuries annually
$10 billion in vehicle damage

Why this happens:

Deer move at dawn and dusk (crepuscular)
Your commute suddenly overlaps with their active hours
Rutting bucks chase does across roads without looking
You're driving in the dark, going too fast

What YOU can do:

Slow down at dusk (5-7 PM in November)
If you see one deer, expect 5 more (they travel in groups)
Don't swerve—brake firmly and stay in your lane
High beams in rural areas (see reflective eyes sooner)

I don't want to die. You don't want a totaled car.
Slow. Down.
– 🦌 The Deer in Your Headlights

09/26/2025

🍂 “Messy” Garden Habits That Help Wildlife
Not every tidy habit is good for nature. Sometimes a little wild is better.

• Leave the Leaves → shelter for butterflies & fireflies
• Keep Seed Heads Standing → natural bird food through winter
• Don’t Pull All the W**ds → clover, dandelions, violets = pollinator fuel
• Don’t Mow Too Short → taller grass protects soil + gives insects a home

09/21/2025

🪵 Build a Brush & Log Pile for Wildlife
Turn fallen wood into a thriving natural shelter! This simple garden feature provides food, cover, and nesting sites for countless species.
Zones: 4–9 (adaptable with local wood & plants).

• Stacked logs & branches → hideouts for amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals.
• Decaying wood → home for beetles, fungi, and insect larvae (food for birds).
• Hollow spaces → overwintering shelter for butterflies and beneficial insects.
• Goldenrod → blooms late, feeding bees and migrating butterflies.
• Joe-Pye W**d → tall nectar-rich flowers for Monarchs and pollinators.
• Native ferns → shady cover for toads and turtles.

🌿 A brush pile turns a forgotten corner into a mini-ecosystem—perfect for a healthy, wildlife-friendly garden. 🦋🐢🐦

07/03/2025

🌼 Black-Eyed Susans on Sale! 🌼
We’ve got an abundance of Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) in 3” pots — now just $25 per tray (18 plants)!

This bright native wildflower is more than just pretty — it’s a pollinator magnet, drawing in bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects all summer. Goldfinches love the seedheads in fall, making it a great choice for birds too!

🟡 Full sun to part sun
🟤 Thrives in dry to average soils

Black-Eyed Susan is a biennial — it grows foliage in the first year, then blooms and sets seed in the second. It readily self-sows, forming a naturally renewing patch with little effort.

Perfect for sunny borders, meadow gardens, and habitat plantings.

We are open Thursdays to Saturdays, 1–5 PM, or by request.