Richmond, B.C. gardeners build urban butterfly highway

Green means 'go' in Richmond where gardeners have been encouraged to grow pollinating plants in an effort to build a customized "highway" for butterflies. 

The goal of The Butterflyway Project, created by the David Suzuki Foundation, is to establish a network of landing spots to feed and shelter the winged beauties.

Butterflies, like bees, help the environment by doing their fair share of pollinating. The landing spots are intended to form a so-callled highway for the pollinators where they can be protected and nourished. 

Five Canadian cities are participating this year, and a team of project rangers has already been deployed in Richmond. 

Pollinator patches 

One of those rangers, Gary Lewis, who owns Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants nursery, said butterflies need reliable garden patches where they can lay their eggs and feed on nectar.

According to Lewis, Oregon grape, Arbutus, Vacciniums, and anything from the daisy family are ideal plants to attract and aid butterflies.

The rangers are planting pollinator patches and also educating residents on how to make their gardens more butterfly-friendly.

Ranger Lynda Pasacreta said one way to do this is to leave your garden alone in the fall.

"We have to start keeping a messier garden now," said Pasacreta.

"Let the growth that died stay because a lot of times the bees and the butterflies lay their eggs down there," she said.

Pasacreta also suggested letting dandelions flower on lawns, and restricting the use of chemicals, to make gardens more attractive to pollinators.

Benefits go beyond butterflies

Winnie Hwo is the ranger team lead in Richmond. She said the project doesn't just benefit butterflies, but the community as well by bringing neighbours together with a shared goal.

According to Hwo, this aspect of the project is particularly important in Richmond.

"We don't feel that we get enough attention for the good things we are doing so this is part of making friends and doing good for the environment."

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Once a ranger team plants a dozen pollinator patches in a neighbourhood, the Suzuki Foundation recognizes the participating city, bestowing on it the status of a so-called butterflyway, to be included on a national project map.

En route to Butterflyway

Richmond is full speed ahead to Butterflyway status, with local high school students and homeowners building pollinator gardens and the ranger team out in full force.

Ranger Lewis is optimistic that with planning and planting, plenty of butterflies could be winging their way through town.

"There's huge potential to create a butterfly Mecca right here in Richmond."

With files from The Early Edition

For the complete interview, click on the audio labelled The Butterflyway Project