The idea for the Tallgrass Butterfly House came to Dave Nance a few years ago in an effort to bring more visitors to the Anderson Prairie park and to help boost the population of butterflies native to Illinois through a controlled and educational environment.
In the house, a 2,600 square foot structure Nance built on the grounds of Anderson Prairie, visitors can view 150 species of plants handpicked to complement the approximate 25 species of butterflies throughout their entire life cycle.
The Tallgrass Pollinator Garden at the Latonis Train Village is not an extension of the Tallgrass Butterfly House managed by Dave but compliments it and brings the natural Illinois prairie plants and pollinators to downtown Pana.
The native prairie plants that are being planted and considered for planting in the Tallgrass Pollinator Garden will compliment the Butterfly House and grounds and bring a connecting theme to the Pana History Museum's world class butterfly collection as well as Anderson Prairie and Lincoln Prairie Bike Trail conservation projects.
We know you will get a lot of enjoyment out of this feature addition to the downtown Pana area!
You can help support the Tallgrass Pollinator Garden.....please donate $20 (or more) to help us establish and maintain the Tallgrass Pollinator Garden. If you wish to make a larger donation increase the quantity of $20 donations purchased. For example: if you wish to donate $100 you will need to add 5 $20 donations to the cart and then check out.
https://panahistoricalsociety.org/.../one-yard-of-dirt...
Or by check please mail to:
Pana Historical Society 5 Oak Street, Pana, Illinois 62557 (Make checks payable to Pana Historical Society - Tallgrass Pollinator Garden
Or
Drop checks off at: Pana TCCU 101 East Fifth Street, Pana, IL 62557
The Pana Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) organization. All or part of your gift may be tax deductible as a charitable contribution.
Below is a list of items required to make it a success:
* Replace the low quality fill that has been in place for over 100 years. 15 tons needed minimum at $20 per ton. The Tallgrass Pollinator Garden needs good Illinois black dirt to grow and produce healthy native Illinois prairie plants.
* Install paving stones around the border. 250 paving stones are needed for the Tallgrass Pollinator Garden borders at $2.48 each.
* Native Illinois plants will be used for the garden. Pollinator plants for the Tallgrass Pollinator Garden will include plants like asters, beebalm, native roses, Joe Pye weed, purple coneflower, great blue lobelia, white indigo, lead plant, blazing stars, beard tongue, bellflowers, hollyhocks, monkshood, snapdragons, sunflowers, foxglove, mints, butterfly weed, goldenrod, larkspur & milkweeds. Dave will supply many of these from his personal pollinator garden and from the Tallgrass Butterfly house. The final list of what plants will be installed is still being determined.
* Signage. This much needed redevelopment project will help restore native plants to the Pana area, which naturalizes the parks and protects people and wildlife by preserving a healthy environment. These pollinator plants promote the repopulation of bees, butterflies, bats, and other wildlife, all while improving the quality of life for the community and beautifying the spaces. Visitors to pollinator gardens often inquire about the vegetation and signage educates the public on the species of flowers and plants used to in the Tallgrass Pollinator Garden. The signage will highlight the many volunteers and sponsors who participated and will participate in planting and maintenance days as well as generous dontaions from local businesses and individuals that make this project possible. Parks and green spaces, whether they are national or local treasures, require signs and panels that clearly communicate while fitting into the beauty of their surroundings. Whether the panels are interpretive in nature, or simply provide information and directions, they will educate visitors for years to come.
* Future additions. As time goes on we will be contine to upgrade the Tallgrass Pollinator Garden with new plants and items of interest.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR GREAT SUPPORT!!!
