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I hope this newsletter finds you good health and spirits. What a summer it has been! Between moth surveys, butterfly surveys, and the life that happens in between, this season has been full of memories, discoveries, and even a few new county records. I’m so grateful for everyone who joined us along the way.
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Behind the scenes, there are some exciting opportunities beginning to take shape. It’s still too soon to share details, and I don’t like dropping teasers—but please know that good things are on the horizon, and I can’t wait to share them with you when the time is right.
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As the season winds down, our focus shifts indoors, but not before one last big event: our Fall Plant Sale. These sales are our lifeline, keeping this work moving forward year after year. I know times are tough and budgets are tight—we feel it too. That’s why we’re committed to keeping our plant prices as affordable as possible. And if your garden is already full (or plants just aren’t in the cards this season), please remember that donations are another wonderful way to support.
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$100 sponsors a Plant Grant for a school, library, or museum
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$50 helps us provide emergency caterpillar support
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$25 keeps our moth equipment in good working order
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Every purchase, every donation, every gesture of support—big or small—helps sustain this community and the work we love. Thank you for walking alongside us this year. Together, we’ve built something special, and I can’t wait to see where we’ll go next.
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Fall Plant Sale Fundraiser
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Fall Plant Sale Fundraiser — Our Final Sale of the Season!
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Join us for our last native plant fundraiser of the year! This special fall sale will feature a limited but carefully curated selection of plants perfect for autumn planting.
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We’ll have a variety of keystone species — including goldenrods, asters, rudbeckias, ironweeds, and more — as well as a rich assortment of native favorites like milkweeds, mountain mints, and beebalms.
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Our specialty is host plants for butterflies, and this sale is no exception. You’ll find plants that support Black Swallowtails, Monarchs, Sleepy Oranges, Cloudless Sulphurs, Grass Skippers, American Ladies, Spicebush Swallowtails, and many others.
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Every purchase helps sustain our mission of creating healthy habitats, while bringing beauty and biodiversity to your own backyard. Come shop, support, and help pollinators thrive!
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Volunteer with us at the Fall Plant Sale! We’re looking for friendly, enthusiastic helpers to make this community event flower. Whether you’re a backyard gardener, a butterfly enthusiast, or just love pitching in, there’s a role for you — from Plant Maven to Parking Attendant to Butterfly Whisperer. No expertise needed, just a smile and a willingness to help! Join us, meet fellow nature-lovers, and support our mission of growing healthy habitats together!
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Volunteers can choose from two 3-hour shifts: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm or 2:30 – 5:30 pm. We’ll provide lunch, a free event t-shirt, and take care of your dietary needs — just let us know your preferences when you sign-up. As a thank-you, every volunteer will take home some free plants and enjoy a 10% discount on purchases.
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Plant Maven
Love growing plants and chatting about them? As a Plant Maven, you’ll help customers discover the right native plants for their gardens — whether it’s the perfect goldenrod, a hardy aster, or something new they haven’t tried yet. You don’t need to be an expert! If you enjoy backyard gardening and have a few tips or stories to share, you’re perfect for this role. It’s all about connection, conversation, and nurturing a plant-loving community.
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Gopher
Not sure exactly where you fit, but ready to pitch in? Become a Gopher! This role is flexible and fun — you’ll step in where extra help is needed, whether that’s fetching supplies, lending a hand to other volunteers, or keeping things running smoothly. If you’re the kind of person who likes variety and doesn’t mind a little “go-pher this, go-pher that,” this spot is for you.
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Parking Attendant
Suit up in a reflective vest and grab a lighted baton — it’s your chance to cosplay as a real parking attendant! Your mission: guide cars safely, keep things flowing, and (bonus points!) maximize space in the front yard. A sense of humor and a little creativity in car-Tetris are welcome.
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Butterfly Whisperer
Do you love sharing nature with others? As a Butterfly Whisperer, you’ll lead visitors through our backyard habitat, pointing out native plants, caterpillars, butterflies, and all the fascinating critters hiding among the leaves. We even have a butterfly or moth costume you can wear if you’d like to really get into character!
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Cashier
Help keep things buzzing at checkout! As a Cashier, you’ll greet customers, handle sales, and make sure everyone leaves happy with their plants. We’ll give you a quick training on using the Zettle app and the cashbox — no prior experience needed, just a friendly attitude and attention to detail.
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Coming in 2026: More Mothing Opportunities!
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We’re excited to share what’s we are planning for mothing in the coming year. From expanded events to new opportunities for hands-on learning, 2026 promises to be a year of growth and community!
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Next year’s Crawl will be bigger than ever as we work to secure a third, larger venue.
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Contests: More categories plus the launch of the Grand Master Moth'er Challenge!
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Lights & Equipment: Backyard moth’ers invited to bring and set up gear (application coming soon).
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Costumes & Fun: An all-ages moth costume contest.
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Workshops & Speakers: Exploring sessions on leaf mining, caterpillar hunting, and talks from guest or keynote speakers.
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TLC Brumley Forest Partnership
Our partnership with TLC at Brumley Forest NP will expand into monthly moth nights from April through October.
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Monthly Gatherings: Regular moth nights April–October.
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Skill Building: Opportunities to practice and prepare for the Grand Master Moth'er Challenge.
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Special Event: A late-night “grave robber hours” gathering (Midnight–3 AM) when all the best moth action happens!
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NC Under-reported County Mothing Project (NCUCMP)
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In 2026, we’ll open applications for overnight moth surveys in under-reported or under-served counties.
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Open to All: No prior ID experience required—you’ll learn as you go.
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Participation: Photograph everything on the sheet and embrace the unpredictability of weather and nature.
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Costs: Free to join; donations welcome to offset lodging. Transportation and meals are participant’s responsibility.
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Looking Ahead
Together, these programs will create more ways to learn, contribute, and connect. Whether you join the Crawl, attend a monthly night, or take part in a survey, 2026 will be filled with opportunities to deepen your skills, share experiences, and be part of a growing community of moth enthusiasts.
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Seasonal Moth Nights @ Brumley Forest NP
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Last Call for Moth Nights in 2025
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Our final seasonal moth night at Brumley Forest NP will close out a very productive year of bringing moths and people together! For this send-off, we’ll be adding a special twist to our usual set-up of LepiLED lights—sugaring.
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Sugaring is an old-time term for using bait to attract our scaly-winged nocturnal friends. The recipe is simple: let ten pounds of bananas ripen until they’re nearly black, mash them roughly, mix in some molasses, and stir in a packet of yeast. Cover and let the mixture ferment for at least eight hours. A few hours before sunset, brush the bait onto rough-barked trees. Then, return about an hour after dark—where you’ll be met by hundreds of glowing bronze eyes shining back at you through the beam of your flashlight!
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It’s an old tradition, a little messy, and a lot of fun—the perfect way to close the book on our 2025 mothing season.
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Thank you to everyone who joined us this year—you’ve helped make 2025 a season full of discovery, connection, and community!
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The Hillsborough Moth Crawl Contest Winners
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Celebrating Our Moth Crawl Contest Winners
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Congratulations to the winners of the iNaturalist Hillsborough Moth Crawl contest! With sharp eyes, quick cameras, and plenty of late-night dedication, you helped showcase the incredible diversity of moths—and their six- and eight-legged night companions. Your observations fluttered their way to the top, and we’re grateful for your contributions to citizen science.
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This year’s contest was a record-breaker. Together we had:
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That’s more than double last year’s totals! A huge thank you to everyone who submitted photos and joined in the fun—you made this year’s Crawl one to remember. Your enthusiasm lit up the collecting sheets and helped document an astonishing diversity of night life in our community. We’re already looking forward to seeing what discoveries next year’s contest will bring and whether someone will be declared the Grand Master Moth'er!
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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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