The Butterfly Garden, located behind the education building, is designed to attract and
support a wide range of butterfly species, including at-risk butterflies like the Zebra Longwing and Statira Sulphur.
Naples Nature Nurture Club President, Grayce Garthoeffner, first learned of the project through her volunteer work
with the Collier County Garden Program. 
The Club’s goal is to spread awareness, share knowledge, and assist with
various environmental projects. By designing and caring for a butterfly garden in their area, the Club aims to highlight
the aesthetic and environmental value of butterflies. Through multiple visits, they designed and refined a garden layout
that includes a variety of host and nectar plants, paying close attention to color and size to provide habitats for many
different insects and butterflies.
The Naples Native Plant Society generously supported this project by providing native plants and mentoring from its
members.
Led by Connie Nagele, the Collier County Parks & Recreation Volunteer Garden Program (CCGP) strives to create
and maintain butterfly gardens in parks for the public to enjoy and learn about the diversity of butterflies in Collier
County. Parks & Recreation maintenance staff supports the gardens with manpower, tools, and additional resources
as needed. This collaborative project is expected to benefit Freedom Park for years to come.
Under the supervision of the CCGP, the Nature Nurture Club will continue to maintain the garden, observing the
plants progress and documenting the butterfly species that visit the garden.
The CCGP conducts bi-annual butterfly counts, and Freedom Park will soon be included in these surveys.
We invite everyone to visit the newly remodeled Butterfly Garden and extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who
contributed to making this project a success.
Submitted by: Grayce Garthoeffner & Connie Nagele
