Mount Magazine International Butterfly Festival
Lured by more than 90 species of butterflies, enthusiasts from around the world gather to enjoy the annual Mount Magazine International Butterfly Festival in Paris. The festival takes place on the Paris town square and at Mt. Magazine State Park.

Lake Dardanelle State Park is known for its thriving fishery. Aside from the 34,300 acres of recreational opportunity the lake provides, the state park has much more to offer, including a Heritage and Native Plant Garden and a colorful Butterfly Garden. Lake Dardanelle State Park in conjunction with the Pope County Master Gardeners planted the butterfly garden in 2005.

The garden is located on the hillside across the parking lot from the parks 10,527 square foot visitor center. The garden includes nearly 100 plant species. The key plants types for a butterfly garden are host, shelter, and nectar plants. Host plants provide food for the caterpillars as they grow. Some of the host plants included in the garden are Butterfly Weed, Wafer Ash trees, Swamp Milkweed, Dill, Parsley, and Passion Flower. The shelter plants provide protection for the chrysalis.

The garden includes Lavender, Rosemary, and Red Buckeye for this purpose. The nectar plants provide food for the adult butterflies.  The garden is packed with nectar plants including, Rose Vervane, Purple Coneflower, Butterfly Bush, Marigolds, and Chrysanthemums. Keeping in mind that certain plants are specific to certain butterflies is important when planting a butterfly garden. 

Lake Dardanelle State Park’s Butterfly Garden is host to a myriad of butterfly species, including Tiger Swallowtails, Spicebush Swallowtails, Buckeyes, and Monarchs, just to name a few. Lake Dardanelle’s Butterfly Garden is a wonderful place to explore nature, see some wonderful butterflies, and check out our beautiful flowers.