Please visit anytime! Parking is on the sidestreets off Rossland.
Volunteers maintain the gardens – tidying, planting, weeding, mulching, and litter pick-up in the area.
(We always need more volunteers!)
For more information, contact Dianne Pazaratz at 905-433-7875.
About the Garden
The Butterfly Garden began as a project related to the objectives of both the DRFN and the former Canadian Organic Growers-Durham Chapter. It provides habitat for some of nature’s little wonders in a time when their natural habitat in this area is disappearing due to urban sprawl, and is kept healthy using organic gardening practices. It also provides beauty in the community.
A committee of six people from both groups began planning in 2003. Research was done to determine plants that would pro-vide nectar for adult butterflies and/or food for the larvae. Club members who were experts on butterflies and plants were consulted.
We met with City of Oshawa Parks Staff to review our plan, then submitted a formal request. The Director of Parks and Facilities Maintenance Services took our proposal to City Council and it was approved.
The first two gardens are 40’ in diameter and contain seven pie-shaped plots full of perennials which attract butterflies. Members of both groups donated the starter plants for these gardens. A few annuals are purchased each year, mostly marigolds to light up the borders.
The third garden in the centre is a butterfly-shaped xeriscape (drought tolerant) garden measuring 45’ by 33‘ at its furthest points. It is raised three feet on the north side to slope down to Rossland Road.
The Butterfly Garden is located on Rossland Road W. Oshawa, Ontario
