Banded Hairstreak butterflies (Satyrium calanus) lay their eggs on the twigs of oak, walnut, hickory, ash, or boxelder trees. The eggs remain dormant throughout the winter and hatch in the spring. The caterpillars then feed on the leaves of these trees, growing and strengthening for the next stage of their life cycle.
When gardening for pollinators, remember, it’s not all about the flowers. Trees are important host plants, providing food and shelter for thousands of caterpillars. For example, an oak tree can support over 500 different species of lepidoptera. So when in doubt—plant a tree!

Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo credit: Germania Marsh ​

Most of us are familiar with the story of the monarch butterfly’s epic journey to Mexico each fall. But what about the more than 30 other species of lepidoptera that call the SBG home?
Amazingly, butterflies could be present in our gardens and yards—in some stage of their life cycle—all winter long. In the days ahead, we’ll look at examples of eggs, larvae, pupae and adult butterflies who spend the winter with us at the SBG. Stay tuned!
Author: Lisa Schneider
Photo credit: David Mark

Seed it and Reap!
For the gardener, it’s the most wonderful time of the year—the time when the avalanche of Sharper Image and LL Bean catalogues in the mailbox are replaced by a treasure trove of seed catalogues.

One can spend many happy hours with the beautiful photos and glowing descriptions (Non-stop blooms! Easy to grow in any climate!), dreaming of spring while curled up in a comfy chair. But how to ultimately choose from the plethora of irresistible offerings?