Butterfly Garden
Whether the focus is the river valley, a flower or a beautiful bride, this is the most photographed area in Weed Park. This garden has been specifically planted to attract bees, birds and butterflies.
Birds use the Mississippi flyway route because no mountains or ridges of hills block the path over its entire extent. Good sources of water, food, and cover exist over its whole length. About 40% of all North American migrating waterfowl and shore birds use this route. Butterflies, especially the Monarch, pass through here on their way toward Mexico.
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in both the United States and all of North America. At 2,320 miles long, the river originates at Lake Itasca, Minnesota and flows slowly southward in sweeping meanders to the Gulf of Mexico. Along with its major tributary, the Missouri River, it drains all or parts of 31 states from the Rocky Mountains to the Appalachian Mountains. It’s the 4th longest river in the world – and the 10th most powerful.
A series of 29 locks and dams were built in the 1930s, and designed primarily to maintain a nine foot deep channel for commercial barge traffic.