Mer's Native Plant
Located directly in front of the Nature Center building, this garden was begun as a memorial to Marabeth Storrs Finn in the spring of 2001. It contains plants native to Connecticut that will attract not only butterflies but also the larvae (caterpillars) from which they develop. While butterflies feed from many different flowering plants, most butterfly larvae, such as the familiar Monarch, feed exclusively on one kind of host plant. By planting a wide variety of flowering plants, including several grasses, shrubs, and trees, we hope to attract a broad range of butterfly species.
Funded through a grant from the Silvio Conte Fish & Wildlife Foundation, the garden was developed to demonstrate the beauty of our native plants in a garden setting. These native plants are well adapted to Connecticut's climate and thrive with little additional watering and minimal care.
Finding a place for these plants in your home landscape will not only add beauty and movement to your garden but will help ensure the survival of these butterflies.
The garden is at its peak late June to September. After hard frosts, the garden becomes a haven for small birds that relish the seeds of many of our native plants.
If you are interested in volunteering to help maintain the garden, please contact Margery Winters at Roaring Brook Nature Center - 860-693-0263.
For a checklist of the plants in this garden, click here.
For a checklist of the butterflies seen at Roaring Brook and the vicinity, click here.
For additional information on Connecticut's butterflies and native plants, please visit the following sites:
For information on what not to plant in your garden, please click here.