Garden of native wildflowers provides a steady diet for butterflies

River Bluffs Audubon Society members Susie Shultz, left, and Betty Richey work on updating the informational kiosk at the Dorothy Bushman Butterfly Garden on Edgewood Drive.
River Bluffs Audubon Society members Susie Shultz, left, and Betty Richey work on updating the informational kiosk at the Dorothy Bushman Butterfly Garden on Edgewood Drive.

The hot, dry weather isn't a problem for Missouri native wildflowers.

Some of the bloomers right now at the Dorothy Bushman Butterfly Garden are purple prairie clover, coneflowers and ox eye sunflowers. The rose verbena just closed up. And the blazing stars should be opening soon.

"There is something blooming just about the whole growing season," said volunteer Betty Richey. "The plants are all Missouri native wildflowers that are host to either butterflies and/or their larva."

Sometimes native and wild plant species aren't the prettiest to the human eye. Although the garden on Edgewood Drive is built for butterflies ....