Two days ago, the giant swallowtails began to hatch.  Watch to see what amazing creatures they become!

Giant swallowtail caterpillar two days old

And finally, we want to show you one of our favorite caterpillars, the spicebush caterpillar.  He looks frightful, but those are pretend eyes to scare away predators!

Spicebush caterpillar

Monarch eggs on butterfly weed, Tuesday

By Wednesday, these little fellows had arrived.

Our first monarch caterpillars

If you look carefully, you can see white eggs.  When the eggs start to turn grey, the caterpillars are about the hatch.  Can you see both?  And maybe even the head of a tiny fellow?

Georgia Ross cleaning Butterfly House in anticipation of spring butterflies

Also in preparation for the season, several volunteers were trained as butterfly “nannies.”  We hope to have more people involved in helping sustain the Butterfly House.  As part of the training, the nannies toured both the house and the new insectarium where caterpillars will be raised. Anyone interested in being a butterfly nanny or helping with the Butterfly House should call the BGO office at 479-750-2620.

Students at Various Learning Stations Throughout the Garden

Game for Understanding Water Conservation

Touring the Butterfly House

Our Major Sponsors also represent the finest in our community and in their fields. This year our Major Sponsors include Frank Sharum Landscape and Design, McDonald’s of NWA, Rose of Sharon Floral Designs, Celebrate Arkansas, NWA Media, 3W Magazine, AY Magazine, and Clear Channel. These businesses have contributed their resources–financial, services, and goods–to our success, both for this special event and for our organization in general.

Frank Sharum Landscape and Design and Sharum’s Garden Center have been long-time supporters of the Garden. They have locations in both Fort Smith and Tontitown. Their award-winning services include everything from residential and commercial landscaping and design to irrigation and lighting.

Rose of Sharon Floral Designs specializes in making customers’ events truly memorable. They are experts in couture design for weddings and special events, events to go, boutique designs, corporate events and sympathy tributes.

McDonald’s of NWA has locations all across the region with a main office in Springdale.

Media Sponsors

Boulder Construction is our presenting sponsor this year. Owner Ron Troutman is a member of the BGO Board of Directors. Boulder is well known around Northwest Arkansas for its notable work on numerous trails systems in the region and the trails at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Intents Party Rental has been a Garden supporter since its inception. This company provides quality party rentals such as tents, chairs, tables, stages, floors, lighting, and heating and cooling. Great events can be truly special events when Intents participates.

Citiscapes Metro Monthly Magazine is Northwest Arkansas’ longest running and most widely circulated monthly city and regional lifestyle magazine. Each month’s issue has a special theme relevant to the seasons and the activities around the region. Issues are widely available for free in many places, including the Garden!