We are surrounded by beautiful natural elements in nature every day, but do people pay attention?A local butterfly whisperer does and she is getting ready for the big day on April 22, 2021. But for this woman, every day is kind of a day to celebrate nature and Mother Earth.
Anita Camacho, the Founder of the Butterfly Conservatory of Tampa Bay and the Tampa Bay Butterfly Foundation is excited about this special day. She is also the owner of the Little Red Wagon Native Nursery in South Tampa.
Camacho is all about native plants to attract the pollinators to your gardens or patio decor.Plant this or that and get the bees and butterflies to visit. It’s really that easy and super cool to welcome these special visitors. People don’t know what’s the best plant to use and she gets it. She aims to help them better understand how to put Florida back in their own gardens.
This nature lover was very busy in January with the NFL Green Week before the Super Bowl. She planted and supplied plants for two big Tampa garden projects.Camacho also completed planting a Butterfly Garden at ENCORE! Tampa in March. So you see her efforts to plant, attract and grow is an everyday thing for this nature lover.
She says really anyone can get involved. It’s easy to put Florida back in Florida.Do you want to attract beautiful butterflies, this is how to do it.Camacho says get your garden pot or flower bed or pick your spot in the yard. It begins with milkweed and a nectar plant. Here are some examples of what to plant to attract some of the different butterflies.
Desired Butterfly: Plant This:
Zebra Swallowtail Corkystem PassionvineMonarch Native Milkweeds & milkvinesGulf Fritillary Maypop passionvineQueen Native Milkweeds & milkvinesCommon Buckeye Twinflowers and Plantain (Plantago Species)
Planting these plants will get you on your way. Pair the plants and watch the colorful visitors fly on in. Add to it depending on the amount of space you have be it your yard or flower beds.
Later this year – Camacho’s planning on opening a Butterfly Conservatory in South Tampa, complete with an immersion room where you can go in and be surrounded by the beautiful butterfly creatures. More fun surprises are set for that project too.
In the meantime, for Earth Day, she’s sharing tips and ideas at her Little Red Wagon Native Nursery shop in South Tampa along Henderson Boulevard. She’s always eager to teach and hear success stories from visitors who use their green thumbs to welcome a new approach to gardening. She wishes you good luck and says it really is easy and loads of fun!
Butterfly Releases are set for Saturday and Sunday at 4 pm.Activities will take place at the Little Red Wagon Native Nursery at 4113 Henderson Blvd, Tampa, FL 33629.
Store hours are:
| Friday | 11AM–5:30AM |
| Saturday | 10AM–5:30AM |
| Sunday | 12–4PM |
To learn more go to www.ButterflyTampa.com