Butterflies of the Night

Deborah Davis, painter, herbalist, and gardener will introduce moths and their plant hosts on the first day of National Moth Week. In the same order as butterflies—lepidoptera—are some 160,000 species of moths. We may think of them as pests, and some are, but they play an essential role as nocturnal pollinators for a wide array of plants that are not visited by bees or butterflies.

Their caterpillars are a vital  food source for birds and many manmals—and when closely observed many are beautiful, as Deborah’s paintings show.

The program will start before dark with a presentation in the Visitor Center classroom and end with lighting a sheet outside to attract and identify moth visitors.

Deborah will bring along and display some of her exquisite, way-larger-than life paintings of moths.

Be sure to bring a flashlight so you can find your way back to your car.