Learn about 'Monarchs, Milkweed and More' at Ligonier museum

The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley will hold “Monarchs, Milkweed and More,” a collaboration with Penguin Court and Brandywine Conservancy.

The event, set for 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 18, is designed to enrich and educate children and adults on various pollinators, planners say.

Penn State Master Gardener Patti Schildkamp will discuss monarch butterflies, their habitats, feeding practices, life cycle and more.

Entomologist Timothy Savisky will share information about the pollinators filling the museum’s gardens, while site gardener Anne Clark gives a tour.

The museum has seven flower beds.

“We have a lot of annuals and perennials. The gardens bloom from April, with thousands of daffodils and tulips. In May and June we have early self-seeding annuals, including larkspur, and from them on it’s just a riot of color,” Clark says.

Caged caterpillars feed on milkweed before forming a chrysalis and later being released into the open, she adds.

The gardens are filled with hibiscus, New England asters, annuals including coneflowers and tall Brazilian verbena.

Melissa Reckner, program manager at Penguin Court in Laughlintown, part of Brandywine Conservancy, will discuss the importance of protecting the endangered monarch, whose habitats are being destroyed.

“We have a lot of butterflies — yellow and black swallowtail and red-spotted purple. But monarchs are the endangered ones,” Clark says.

Plein air artists Doreen Currie, Pat Dickun, Becky Mormak and Peg Panasiti will create artwork of the gardens that will be available for purchase. Children’s art activities also will be available.

The museum, at One Boucher Lane, is open to the public and free of charge.

Details: 724-238-6015 or sama-art.org