By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Kathi Fluck, communication and marketing specialist at the library, is shown at the entrance to the Butterfly Garden on the grounds of the Geneseo Public Library. Photo by Claudia Loucks
The Butterfly Garden at the Geneseo Public Library began with a simple idea - to create an outdoor space where butterflies and other pollinators could flourish.
The garden was established in 2025, when milkweed and other pollinator-friendly plants were added to an area adjacent to the Library Reading Garden. A “From Chrysalis to Caterpillar” class was held for young children to provide them with an opportunity to learn about the life cycle of a butterfly.
Kathi Fluck, communication and marketing specialist at the library, said earlier this year, several grants were applied for and awarded, and the garden then became something more: “an outdoor space where people of different ages and abilities could sit on comfortable benches, pause, notice their surroundings, read or simply experience nature in a more personal way.”
Fluck explained that an AARP Community Challenge Grant is funding the construction of a slip-resistant concrete walkway connecting the recently-opened Reading Garden to the Butterfly Garden… “This pathway will allow people of all abilities to reach the Butterfly Garden easily and safely.”
The grant also is funding three commercial-grade park benches, a pergola for shade, a large wind chime and a welcoming garden sign.
A low-to-the-ground fountain was donated by Boegers Landscape Supply in Darien, IL, and Fluck said, “The fountain was an unexpected act of generosity. When Hank Boegers learned about the purpose of the garden, he simply donated the fountain. His kindness helped shape the spirit of the project.”
A grant from Apex Clean Energy funds the solar-powered pump for the fountain as well as a read wind spinner that adds movement and visual interest to the garden.
And there’s more…The space becomes even more interactive when visitors check out the Sensory Garden Kit at the Library Circulation Desk. The items are stored in an easy-to-carry bag and include a rain stick that creates a soothing sound like gentle rain, a steel-tongue drum that can be lightly tapped to produce soft tones, a Tibetan singing bowl that can be struck and made to “sing” with a vibrating tone, and smooth gray stones in several sizes that can beheld and explored.
Information sheets are included to guide visitors in using the items in the sensory kit.
Three children’s books – “My Five Senses”, “I Hear a Pickle”, and You Can’t Smell a Flower with Your Ear!” – help to further enrich the experience.
The Sensory Garden Kit has been made possible through a grant from Abilities Plus.
Directly outside the Butterfly Garden are two large wooden butterfly wings painted by RutabagA Art. Later this fall, a custom-made concrete caterpillar will be installed near the wings, creating a visual representation of the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly.
WHY THE GARDEN MATTERS
“The Sensory Garden reflects the library’s belief that learning and connection can happen in many different ways.
Some people learn by reading, while others learn by listening, touching, watching or moving. Some people seek stimulation, while others need a quiet place to regulate their senses, rest and relax. The garden makes room for all of those needs.
It is an outdoor classroom, a place for reflection, a pollinator habitat and an accessible community space. It gives children a place to explore, older adults a place to rest and reflect, and individuals with disabilities an opportunity to interact with nature in ways that are meaningful and comfortable for them.
Most importantly, it invites everyone to slow down.’
Listen to the wind chime. Watch the spinner. Touch the water. Hold a smooth stone.
Notice a butterfly. Look at the caterpillar sculpture or the butterfly wings and consider the wonder of nature.
The Sensory Butterfly Garden is a reminder that sometimes the smallest experiences can bring the greatest sense of calm, wonder and connection.