The Roanoke Island Garden Club has given a multi-year gift to help fund the new John White Butterfly Center at the Elizabethan Gardens. The center, slated to open in June of 2018, will house native butterflies, educational signage and plants that attract butterflies.

The gardens website has information about donations to the center.

The Roanoke Island Garden Club, through their involvement, perpetuates the efforts of the Elizabethan Gardens’ founders — the Garden Club of North Carolina.

Some 67 years ago, state club members approached GCNC with an idea for a memorial garden. Likewise in 1951, the Roanoke Garden Club was formed. Many of their original members assisted with the development of The Elizabethan Gardens. These included Mrs. Leo Midgett, Mrs. Guy Lennon, Mrs. M.K. Fearing and numerous other local women.

As household gardeners know, there is always something new to try out in the garden. The same holds for the Elizabethan Gardens. The butterfly center is an opportunity for the gardens to expand offerings at the attraction and educate visitors about butterflies that live in North Carolina.