By Martie Thompson
editor@floridanewsline.com
Recently, local couple John and Jessica Kellat were walking through one of their favorite local parks, Elizabeth “Betty” Wolfe Park in the Pickwick Park area of Mandarin. They noticed a bare spot along the path and had an idea to enhance and beautify the area by adding a butterfly garden to the spot. On April 13, after meeting with officials of the City of Jacksonville, who went over guidelines and approved the project, the butterfly garden was planted.
One caveat of both the city’s approval as well as John and Jessica’s preference, was that native species of plants be used.
“I am a native Floridian who grew up in New Smyrna Beach,” John Kellat said. “I prefer the natural springs and parks of our state to places like Disney World. I feel we need to preserve this natural beauty of Florida.”
As a professional landscaper, John Kellat said he has seen a lot of non-native plantings, which are contributing to the decline of the natural ecosystem. So when he and his wife got the go ahead from the city to plant the butterfly garden in Betty Wolfe Park, they did a lot of research and found local nurseries that had some of the species of plants they were seeking. They gathered more than 15 different native species of plants for their butterfly garden.
When they arrived at the park on installation day, community members in the park saw their project and offered to help.
“Betty Wolfe Park is an active little gemstone in Mandarin,” John Kellat said. “Everyone has been so enthusiastic and supportive of our efforts.”
Jessica Kellat, a Jacksonville native who was introduced to arboriculture by her father, said that the Pickwick Park HOA has been especially supportive and community members have helped out by watering the garden and donating money for more plants.
As a result of this enthusiastic response, the Kellats have built a website, www.floridanativeplantrepopulation.com to help educate the public and display their work to date. They have applied for non-profit status and have worked on other projects like a privacy netting project for a local magnet school and the donation of milkweed and caterpillars to a special needs school.
John Kellat said he just applied for a grant through the Florida Native Plant Society to expand the garden at Betty Wolfe Park. The original garden utilized about one-third of the available barren space, so the Kellats are moving ahead with plans for the remaining two-thirds. The new proposed expansion will include 15 additional species not in the first part of the garden.
The Kellats are seeking additional projects and funding via grants and donations following the success of their butterfly garden.
“We are just a local couple trying to make a difference,” John Kellat said. “We are trying to raise our children with respect for nature and for the community. We feel it is important to give back.”
[Author’s Note: Visit www.floridanativeplantrepopulation.com for more information about the upcoming projects, to sign up for the newsletter, and how you can help or donate.]
Photo courtesy Jennifer Kellat
Phase One of the butterfly garden is complete at Elizabeth “Betty” Wolfe Park.
