Butterflies flock to Moraine’s hidden garden
Tucked away in the North Shore area of Moraine State Park, near McDanels Boat Launch, is the Butterfly Trail. The half-mile trail surrounds a carefully-manicured pollinator garden which, as the name suggests, is a hotbed for butterflies and other flying insects.
The trail is maintained both by staff at Moraine State Park — overseen by Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources — as well as the Master Gardener program at the Penn State Extension Office of Butler County.
For hikers, the Butterfly Trail is considered the shortest and easiest of the park’s 10 trails, consisting of only half a mile of relatively flat terrain. The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners work to ensure that the trail is also the most aesthetically pleasing, by removing invasive plants.
“They do some weeding, they do some pruning, and they make sure there’s no invasives taking over areas,” Brian Flores, assistant manager of Moraine State Park, said. “There’s a field right next to the entrance to the Butterfly Trail, and the park will mow that periodically to knock back invasives and to help promote the natural growth of different types of pollinator species in the park.”
“The park staff ensures that butterflies continue to return to the area by planting native species that act as attractors for butterflies and other pollinators,” said Emily Sizer, operations manager for the Moraine Preservation Fund.
Native plants are species of plants that provide butterflies and other insects with the pollen and nectar they need to survive. Among the native plants that can be found at the Butterfly Trail during the summer are wild bergamot and swamp milkweed.
“Butterflies and pollinators need a year-round supply of some type of pollinator vegetation,” Flores said. “The habitat is the key aspect to providing an area for specific species to inhabit.”
Despite the name, butterflies aren’t even close to the only species that can be found at the Butterfly Trail.
“There’s a lot of different types of moths that come through,” Flores said. “There’s native bees and wasps and other types of insects. Then, you have bird species that feed off those insects; then, you have the moles and the mice and the snakes that burrow in the ground.
“That helps feed the whole ecosystem.”
While humans are free to make use of the Butterfly Trail, there are rules to follow, including that people must observe the wildlife from a distance.
“It’s not only the butterflies, but all wildlife in terms of respecting their habitat,” Flores said.
According to Sizer, the butterflies can be affected by human presence if the plants that they are using for resources and reproduction are tampered with or unearthed.
“It is imperative that visitors leave the park as they found it and simply observe these natural beauties so that everyone can admire them for years to come,” Sizer said.
