If you’ve been on a walk through San Saba’s new LCRA River Nature Park since last week, you might have been surprised by the newly planted area at the beginning of the path around the grounds. Now planted in the ground and tenderly watered are the young plants for our new Butterfly Garden! Soon there will be butterflies galore enjoying the nectar of the flowering trees, shrubs, and other plants. The idea of a Butterfly Garden for the new park was first conceived by members of the San Saba Garden Club and the request was made to LCRA in the early planning stages of the park. The San Saba Bird and Nature Club matched the Garden Club’s monetary gift and additional donations were accepted from individuals. A landscape plan was devised with help from Buddy Bishop and Kynda Jordan, and plant selection was done by a group led by Jimma Byrd. A request was sent to the Master Gardener group as well as the other two groups to help install the plants. There were about 35 people helping on planting day April 3. Everyone there seemed to enjoy the labor of love even in the hot sun and slight breeze, knowing that the reward would soon be a beautiful flowering garden!Texas native plants were selected that fulfilled the requirements of being both beautiful and host plants to at least one species of butterfly larva. Some of the plantings include Texas Redbud, Evergreen Sumac, Flame-leaf Sumac, Mexican Plum, Texas Lantana, Fall Aster, Cenizo, Butterfly-weed, Salvia Greggii, Flame Acanthus, Blackfoot Daisy, Zexmentia, and Greggs’s Mistflower.Some butterflies we’re sure to see visiting the garden are the Henry’s Elfin, Banded Hairstream, Tiger Swallowtail, Painted Lady, Theona Checkerspot, Roadside Skipper, Texas Crescent, Bordered Patch, Rawson’s Metalmark, and our well known, well loved, Monarch.The San Saba Garden Club, San Saba Bird and Nature Club, and Master Gardeners’ Group invite you to stroll through the park and enjoy the Butterfly Garden, too!