Atala butterfly. Meghan Bradbury

The community is invited to attend the Cape Coral Museum of History’s garden tour next Wednesday to learn about Florida friendly landscaping, and what to plant to attract butterflies to your space.

The tour will be held Nov. 13 and will continue the second Wednesday of each month through April, at 544 Cultural Park Blvd. There is no charge for the tour and individuals can attend any time between 1-4 p.m.

Due to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, tours were not conducted in October.

Carolyn France said the garden did fairly well following the storm, with only some limbs down and general clean-up across the garden. The burrowing owls are still there and the butterflies are beginning to come back.

“We are on the road to recovery,” France said.

Atala butterflies, which were once thought to be extinct in the United States, have found the museum’s garden. Thanks to butterfly enthusiasts they have acquired eggs and caterpillars over the years, which established a colony, she said.

The tour is led by a Lee County master gardener.

“We are the ones that maintain the garden,” she said.

Those who take the tour will learn what plants are host and nectar plant for butterflies. In addition, attendees will have the chance to see what mature Florida native plants look like, as well as Florida friendly plants.

“They can see how big they are going to get if they plant them in their garden,” France said. “We generally talk about the Florida friendly landscape program and what it entails and needs.”

For more information, call 239-772-7037.