Winkler's Butterfly Gardens saw plenty of action in recent weeks, both from the people across the country and winged insects.

"Frequently people stop by," Organizer Martha Bergman says, adding visitors from afar away as Saskatchewan have come to take family photos at the gardens.

"It's drawing visitors from all over the place and it's exciting to see," she says.

The gardens, an initiative by the Winkler Horticultural Society in partnership with the Winkler Arts and Culture centre, feature a 500 lbs, seven foot tall sculpture of a butterfly.

The location is also nationally recognized site, as a registered Monarch Waystation with the North American Butterfly Association.

"We're pleased to have the name of Winkler on the map in the U.S," she says, adding they've been able to collaborate and learn new methods for nurturing a habitat like the Butterfly Garden.

Photo by Wendy Klassen

While the pollenator plants weren't mature for the spring arrival, she notes many butterflies, including the Monarch and Painted Lady, fueled up in recent weeks at the garden for their flight home.

"It's been just delightful to see," she says.

For anyone looking to pitch in with the latest efforts of the Winkler Horticultural Society, the group is holding a work day October 10 to tackle much of the clean-up of flowerbeds around the city. Community volunteers are asked to meet at the Winkler Arena at 9:00 a.m, and again at 10:30 a.m.

The butterfly garden project was spearheaded by Martha Bergman and Tanya Wainio