MEETINGS & BUTTERFLY WALKS

MEETINGS, BUTTERFLY WALKS & SPECIAL EVENTS

***Please note that we alternate Meetings and Butterfly Walks.***

VIEW ALL MEETINGS AND BUTTERFLY WALKS ON OUR CALENDAR.

Butterfly Walk

Saturday, October 7, 2023

9:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.

Frenchman’s Forest Natural Area

12201 Prosperity Farms Road, Palm Beach Gardens, Fl 33410

There are 7 ecosystems in the 172-acre natural area, including pine flatwoods, strand and tidal swamps, hydric hammock, as well as drier areas. It was once part of the headwaters of Lake Worth Creek. The Blazing Star trail is 0.4 miles and paved for easy access. It leads to the observation platform of the tidal pond. Much of the trails are shady. Saw Palmetto Trail and other trails are open and sandy. Frenchman’s Forest has been part of the NABA 4th of July count since 2005. It is noted for numerous Statira Sulphurs and Ruddy Daggerwings. Zebra Swallowtails have been spotted occasionally. See count information at: https://www.nabapalmbeach.org/4th-of-july-counts

For more information see: Environmental Resources Management - Frenchmans-Forest (pbcgov.org)

Wear walking shoes, bring hat, bug spray, sunscreen and drinking water.

Please note, there are no public facilities or drinking water.

Free but space limited. Register with PBC ERM at:

Butterfly Hike Registration, Sat, Oct 7, 2023 at 9:30 AM | Eventbrite

Chapter members can also email nabapalmbeach@gmail.com

Native Garden Tour

Sunday, November 5

9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Sponsored by Palm Beach County Native Plant Society

Audubon Everglades

Atala Chapter of NABA

Visit 6 native plant gardens.

FNPS Members Free; Non-members $10

Palm Beach Chapter (fnpschapters.org)

Pan's Garden Tour and Program

Saturday, December 2, 2023

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Pan’s Garden

386 Hibiscus Ave, Palm Beach, Fl 33480

Note location and time!

The Program: Native Plants for Butterflies and Pollinators at Pan’s Garden by Susan Lerner. Susan is the Director of Horticulture at the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach. She will lead an insider’s tour of Pan’s Garden, Florida’s first all-native botanical garden, created in 1994 and evolving since then. Susan will discuss how to choose and take care of native plants, particularly the diverse plants that support butterflies and pollinators. Susan is a UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer, past president of the Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council and past president of the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, where she continues to serve on the Board. Susan is particularly known to be an avid supporter of all creatures in the insect world! The garden tour is limited to 20 people. Prior registration is required; first come, first serve! Email nabapalmbeach@gmail.com to register.

Atala Chapter Meeting

Saturday, January 13, 2024, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

"Butterfly Gardening in South Florida"

Meetings are free and open to the public.

Mounts Building Auditorium at Mounts Botanical Garden

531 N. Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Fl 33415

https://mounts.org

The Program: Butterfly Gardening in South Florida by Jeff Nurge. Jeff Nurge, well-known native plant and butterfly advocate, is the owner of Native Choice Nursery. He is a long-time Palm Beach County resident with many years of experience creating native plant and butterfly gardens. Jeff is a graduate of the UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener program. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and also serves on the board of Keep Palm Beach Beautiful and Community Greening. Jeff provides programs and advice for local organizations. He writes articles for the Palm Beach Post and other south Florida news media. His program will inspire both novice butterfly gardeners and seasoned gardeners with advice about how to attract and keep butterflies in your yard, no matter how large or small.

Atala Chapter Meeting

Saturday, February 17, 2024

1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

"Wild Florida Photography"

Meetings are free and open to the public.

Mounts Building Auditorium at Mounts Botanical Garden

531 N. Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Fl 33415

https://mounts.org

The Program: Wild Florida Photography by Paul Strauss. Local nature photographer & outdoor adventurer, Paul Strauss, owner of Osprey Nature Photography, will take NABA members and guests on a leisurely photo trip through rural Florida. His PowerPoint presentation includes visiting his favorite "wild" places away from the bustling crowds. Representative butterfly species and native plants will be featured, along with inspirational Florida natural scenery. Besides being an award-winning photographer, Paul is a UF/IFAS Advanced Master Naturalist and a NAI Certified Interpretive Guide providing programs at state parks, preserves and local nature centers.

Butterfly Walk

Saturday, April 13, 2024

9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area

110 Nature’s Way

Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411

This butterfly walk is an Adopt A Natural Area program in partnership with Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management (ERM). The Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area is 772 acres and includes mesic flatwoods, wet flatwoods, hydric hammock, wet prairie, depression marsh, and dome swamp, with wetland ecosystems covering almost half the area. NABA has been conducting butterfly counts here since 2000. Many butterfly species are seen, with the Variegated Fritillary a special sight! https://www.nabapalmbeach.org/4th-of-july-counts

For more information see: Environmental Resources Management Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area

Please note there are no public facilities and no drinking water.

Free but space limited. Register at:

PBC Dept of Environmental Resources Mgmt (ERM) Events | Eventbrite

Chapter members can also email nabapalmbeach@gmail.com

Atala Chapter Meeting

Saturday, May 18, 2024, 1:00 p,m.-3:00 p.m.

"On Your Marks! Get Ready for 2024 Butterfly Counts"

Mounts Auditorium

Mounts Botanical Garden

531 N. Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Fl 33415

The Program: "On Your Marks! Get Ready for 2024 Butterfly Counts" by Alana Edwards and Teri Jabour. Learn about the butterflies we see in Palm Beach County! The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) annual 4th of July Butterfly Count is an important citizen science project to collect data about local butterfly species. The Atala Chapter has been doing butterfly counts in Palm Beach and Martin County since 1995. Chapter members will share their tips on how to identify local butterflies that we see in natural areas and in our yards. Being able to recognize the most common—and uncommon—butterflies will increase your enjoyment of butterfly watching as well as be an important part of this annual butterfly monitoring project. This program is for everyone! Not just counters! See past years count results