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8th Annual Open House (2024)
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Board Member Katherine Ruiz dressed as a floofy moth
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I hope this newsletter finds you in good spirits and health. I am doing well, adapting to my new energy level and overall feeling of my new 'normal'. I'm definitely in Stage 3 of Chronic Kidney Disease. Despite this, my spirits are up as this is the start of the mothiest time of year!
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I'll be traveling now throughout this month and through to August conducting moth surveys in under-reported counties or participating in NABA butterfly counts. I hope to send out another newsletter in July, and I'll do my best to keep Facebook updated.
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As always it is this time of year, so much to do and so little time to do it in, lol! I hope to see you soon at one of our upcoming plant related or moth related events, or that you'll consider volunteering with us.
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9th ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE & PLANT SWAP
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We’re excited to invite you to our 9th Annual Open House and Plant Swap, a day dedicated to celebrating native plants, pollinators, and the power of transforming your own backyard into a butterfly and moth sanctuary. This event will take place rain or shine and offers a range of activities for gardeners, nature lovers, and anyone interested in supporting biodiversity at home.
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The event will feature a plant swap where guests are welcome to bring plants to exchange with others, as well as a free plant table for those who may not have something to trade. In addition to the swap, there will be a variety of native plants available for sale, including many keystone species that play a critical role in supporting local ecosystems.
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Guests will have the opportunity to explore our backyard butterfly habitat through both self-guided and guided tours. Our gardens include over 300 species of native host and nectar plants and have supported the life cycles of 77 species of butterflies and over 450 species of moths. The habitat is a living example of how native gardening can create meaningful ecological impact, even in small spaces.
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Visitors will also be able to observe firsthand how native plants behave in a naturalistic setting. From the impressive size of mature false indigo to the boundary-defying spread of common milkweed, and the colorful, unpredictable beauty of chaos gardening, our habitat provides a dynamic and educational environment for gardeners of all experience levels.
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The goal of this event is to inspire others to create similar sanctuaries in their own yards and to share practical knowledge about the plants and practices that support pollinators. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your native plant palette, we hope you’ll join us for a day of learning, sharing, and connecting with others who care about supporting nature at home.
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𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐒 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄
(He’s got wings, not thumbs)
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The 9th Annual Open House & Plant Swap is crash-landing on Saturday, June 21st, and we need YOU to help Mothman keep things from devolving into pure garden chaos!
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Volunteer for one (1) glorious 3.5-hour shift from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and bask in the glow of native plants, butterflies, and the occasional cryptid sighting. Bring your curiosity, your love of pollinators, and your ability to make eye contact with a 7-foot winged enigma.
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• 💸 Cashier (handle the green—no, not moth scales)
• 🌿 Plant Maven (knows a coneflower from a sneezeweed)
• 🦋 Butterfly Whisperer (must whisper very softly, or just nod wisely)
• 🚀 Gopher (runs around but in a majestic way)
• 📜 Plant Swap Check-In (keeper of the sacred garden ledger)
• 🅿️ Parking Attendant (wielder of the neon vest of power)
• 🌱 Free Plant Table Guardian (defender of the leafy bounty)
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𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐊𝐒 (𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄):
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• Exclusive T-shirt (possibly moth-proof)
• Delicious lunch (100% cryptid-approved)
• Snacks and beverages
• Discounts on plants (and possibly interdimensional goodwill)
• Probably a few mysterious plants will end up in your car?!?
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Moth Night Volunteers Needed
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Join us in making this year's Annual Moth Night a memorable and seamless event! We're currently seeking dedicated volunteers to assist with:
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Guest Check-In & Registration
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Monitoring Mothing Stations (Light Sheets)
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Parking Assistance & Directional Support
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This is a great opportunity to support community science, connect with nature, and be part of a unique and educational evening celebrating the incredible diversity of moths.
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Volunteer Perks Include:
A limited edition Moth Night T-shirt
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Launched in 2019, our Annual Moth Night has become a welcoming introduction to the glowing world of mothing—an all-ages, all-skills, mercury vapor light powered journey into nocturnal nature.
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The evening begins with a brief PowerPoint presentation designed to guide newcomers through the basics: what equipment is used, how to get started, which field guides and apps are helpful, and what fascinating creatures you’re likely to spot on the collecting sheets.
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Seasoned moth’ers who already speak the language of LepiLEDs and pheromones are welcome to skip the presentation and flutter in after 9:00 PM—just in time for start of moth activity.
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Bring a camera or smartphone, sign up for a free iNaturalist account, and upload your nighttime discoveries to contribute to citizen science. Join the official Moth Night project to enter our contest and you might win a limited-edition Moth Night t-shirt—perfect for impressing friends, neighbors, and possibly Mothman himself.
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Though the event officially ends at 11:30, we’ll keep the lights on as long as people want to observe, though all observations after 11:30 will not count towards the contest.
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Seasonal Moth Nights @ Brumley Forest NP
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Despite an early evening storm that swept through with all the drama of a Shakespearean subplot, the skies over Brumley Forest cleared just in time for a dazzling show of wings and wonder. On May 31, 2025, nearly 50 moth enthusiasts gathered at Brumley Forest Nature Preserve for Moth Night—an annual after-dark celebration of the planet’s most underrated pollinators.
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A total of six moth stations were set up across three distinct hubs throughout the preserve, each station strategically placed to maximize both moth and human traffic. The lighting ensemble was nothing short of a lepidopterist’s dream: four mercury vapor lights with a minimum of 165 watts lit up the night like entomological lighthouses, while two LepiLED lights and two Entoquip UVs brought high-tech allure to the evening’s lineup.
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Though the air was cool and the ground damp from the earlier deluge, the moths seemed to take it all in stride—perhaps even relishing the post-storm ambiance. In a particularly theatrical display of synchronicity, each of the six stations received a visit from at least one Luna Moth, as if they were making their rounds like glittering green VIPs. Their luminous wings and serene presence captivated attendees and reminded everyone that yes, nature does have headliners.
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Other celebrity moths made notable appearances throughout the night. The Rosy Maple Moth turned heads with its signature pink-and-yellow ensemble. Ilia Underwing and Scarlet Underwing added moody contrast and just the right amount of drama. The Tulip Tree Silkmoth brought size and spectacle to the show, while an ever-rotating cast of micro moths kept seasoned observers on their toes and newcomers delightfully confused.
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Seasonal Moth Nights will continue throughout the summer! The next date is schedule for July 26, 2025.
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The Hillsborough Moth Crawl
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On the evening of June 7, moth enthusiasts of all ages gathered under the glow of light sheets for the Hillsborough Moth Crawl, a celebration of nocturnal nature held across three sites: Confluence Natural Area, Brumley Forest Nature Preserve, and Backyard Butterflies. With an estimated 230 attendees, the event brought together toddlers, teens, parents, grandparents—and even visitors who made the journey from as far as Winston-Salem and Wilson.
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Despite a weather-related closure at the Brumley location due to a pop-up rainstorm, Crawlers persisted in the rain and despite that the organizers had to turn off the mercury vapor lighting.
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A total of 64 participants joined the iNaturalist Contest project, resulting in an impressive 2,933 observations by 44 observers and a count of 591 unique species. While it's still to be determined if any of these sightings represent county or state records, the results speak to the incredible biodiversity of our region and the amazing number of citizen scientists who enjoy observing at night!
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Contest winners will be announced soon on our Facebook page, so stay tuned to find out who made the most observations and who discovered the most species during this nighttime adventure.
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Special thanks to Tammy, April, Daniel, Alexia, Dean, Deane, Nathaniel, Mary-Cat, Thomas, Tim, Ralph, Amaya, Hillary, Jonathan, and to everyone who participated, observed, photographed, and helped shine a light on our often-overlooked nighttime neighbors. With your enthusiasm and curiosity, Hillsborough is helping moths get the recognition they deserve—one flickering bulb at a time.
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Support Our Missions
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Your contribution helps us fulfill our missions of providing education, community outreach, and assistance in creating backyard butterfly and moth friendly habitats.
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