The Villages - September 2016 - 7

What once served as a hobby became his life's work for 48 years after he opened a garden center in Pennsylvania. Funk made his first butterfly garden at his store. As he tended to it, he learned various tricks of the trade that summoned beautiful butterflies. He took these skills with him when he and his wife, Jacque, moved to The Villages in 2013. To his surprise, there were no butterfly gardening clubs here, so he started The Villages Butterfly Gardens Club in 2014. Funk began with monthly meetings where members asked gardening questions and listened to guest speakers, such as local master gardeners. After some time with the club, Funk learned about the monarch's risk of extinction. It didn't sit well with him. He felt the club had a duty to help the monarch population by starting its own garden. So members helped plant one behind Lady Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church at 231 Lake Griffin Road in Lady Lake. Fred Funk join the Club The Villages Butterfly Gardens Club meets at 1:30 p.m. on the third Friday of every month at Fish Hawk Recreation Center. The club is open to all Villages residents. For information, call Fred Funk at 717-330-3349 or visit vbfgardens.com. The club's project has grown into nine butterfly gardens covering three-fifths of an acre. Funk appreciates the many members who donate time, money and plants to maintain it all. And Funk, whom some members call "the godfather of the garden," spends a minimum of 20 to 30 hours per week tending to 2,000 plants, many of which he started in his yard. Most weeknights, you'll find him roaming the gardens, checking on his beloved plants and admiring the multitude of fluttering butterflies. "I think it's a good outlet and it can be challenging giving the plant what it needs," he said. "It's rewarding when you come and see the butterflies." Members and visitors continue to bask in the presence of the gardens' winged wonders. Funk encourages everyone, from beginners to master gardeners, to get involved with the club. He also wants to help people start their own butterfly gardens, especially ones that attract monarchs. Read on for his simple tips and sage advice to get started. MAGAZINE 7 http://www.vbfgardens.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - September 2016