MEET "BUTTERFLY BOB"
Dr. "Butterfly Bob" Snetsinger's mission is to educate the public about the importance of butterfly conservation and ecosystems, many of which are endangered throughout the world. Through his efforts he has encouraged the general public to establish butterfly friendly gardens. In 2011, The Tudek Trust, Ferguson Township, and Centre Region Parks and Recreation recognized Dr. Snetsinger's many years of outstanding work and dedication to the garden by officially designating the habitat as "The Snetsinger Butterfly Garden at Tom Tudek Memorial Park". Read More
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OUR STORY
It would be hard to describe in a few words the wonder and enchantment of the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden. This unique three-acre enhanced habitat teems with plant and animal species that together make up the natural diversity of life. The development of this butterfly habitat has been the passion of Dr. Robert Snetsinger, Professor Emeritus of Entomology at Penn State University, popularly known as "Butterfly Bob". As close friends of the Tudek family, the Snetsingers developed the project as a labor of love in tribute to the loss of Wendy and Bob Snetsinger's teenage daughter to cancer who, like Tom Tudek, died at age seventeen. Both their daughter Clare and Tom Tudek were interested in butterflies with Tom and his brother having boyhood butterfly collections.
A butterfly gardener extends an open invitation for many species of wildlife, especially showy butterflies, to visit and take up residency. In the late 1990s this old field habitat (agricultural weeds) had six resident species of butterflies. Today, there are over 30 resident species of butterflies and the garden has been enriched with over 100 species of native plants serving as caterpillar hosts and providing nectar for the adult butterflies and other pollinators. Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, in partnership with Dr. "Butterfly Bob" Snetsinger, develop and maintain the The Snetsinger Butterfly Garden as an educational resource. The Snetsinger Butterfly Garden has become a special place for the public and is visited by youth and school groups, gardeners, photographers, researchers and thousands of people of all ages each year. |
penn state Extension master gardeners Of Centre County
Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Centre County, in partnership with "Butterfly Bob" Snetsinger, develop and maintain the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden as an educational resource.
The five SBG Demonstration Gardens are the center of Master Gardener outreach and educational programming. Master Gardeners provide mentoring in environmental stewardship, both on-site with our Community Steward Program and beyond the habitat through our Satellite Garden Program. Tours, presentations and educational events are developed for the gardening public throughout the seasons, including such topics as Butterfly Gardening, Native Plants, Monarch Conservation, and Pollinator Friendly Gardening. Read More
The five SBG Demonstration Gardens are the center of Master Gardener outreach and educational programming. Master Gardeners provide mentoring in environmental stewardship, both on-site with our Community Steward Program and beyond the habitat through our Satellite Garden Program. Tours, presentations and educational events are developed for the gardening public throughout the seasons, including such topics as Butterfly Gardening, Native Plants, Monarch Conservation, and Pollinator Friendly Gardening. Read More
Community Stewards
Community organizations, school groups, families, and individuals join "Butterfly Bob" and Penn State Extension Master Gardeners in the stewardship of the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden.
With the assistance of Master Gardener mentors, our community partners explore wildlife friendly gardening practices working an area of the habitat. They also receive direct educational programming, plants for their garden area, and continued support beyond the habitat for their own programs and gardens promoting pollinator friendly practices. The gardening sessions are always rewarding for all who steward the habitat within this lovely pastoral setting.
For information on becoming a community steward, contact us at info@snetsingerbutterflygarden.org
With the assistance of Master Gardener mentors, our community partners explore wildlife friendly gardening practices working an area of the habitat. They also receive direct educational programming, plants for their garden area, and continued support beyond the habitat for their own programs and gardens promoting pollinator friendly practices. The gardening sessions are always rewarding for all who steward the habitat within this lovely pastoral setting.
For information on becoming a community steward, contact us at info@snetsingerbutterflygarden.org
park partners
The Snetsinger Butterfly Garden was created in partnership with the Tudek Trust, Ferguson Township and Centre Region Parks and Recreation. The Master Gardeners of Centre County joined this partnership in 2007 to work with Dr. Snetsinger to develop and maintain this habitat as a major educational resource for the community.
Since 2007 Dr. Snetsinger and the Master Gardeners have worked to develop additional partnerships that would expand the opportunities for educational outreach and research. Penn State's Frost Entomological Museum and its support organization, the Friends of Frost, assist with the development of educational displays and exhibits, outreach programs and research. Also involved in these activities and programs is Penn State's Center for Pollinator Research.
Many community organizations work with the Master Gardeners as partners in various events and activities including Penn State's Shavers Creek Environmental Center, the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society, Muddy Paws Marsh, Discovery Space of Central PA, the Bellefonte Children's Garden, Centre Crest, and several local schools.
Since 2007 Dr. Snetsinger and the Master Gardeners have worked to develop additional partnerships that would expand the opportunities for educational outreach and research. Penn State's Frost Entomological Museum and its support organization, the Friends of Frost, assist with the development of educational displays and exhibits, outreach programs and research. Also involved in these activities and programs is Penn State's Center for Pollinator Research.
Many community organizations work with the Master Gardeners as partners in various events and activities including Penn State's Shavers Creek Environmental Center, the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society, Muddy Paws Marsh, Discovery Space of Central PA, the Bellefonte Children's Garden, Centre Crest, and several local schools.