Eric Perrette
After earning a degree in horticulture from the University of Central Missouri in 2008, Eric Perrette had no idea his career was eventually going to “take flight.” Eric’s love for all things butterflies started 16 years ago when he began working at Powell Gardens in Kingsville, Missouri. Thanks to its annual Festival of Butterflies event, he became fascinated with the process of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly—and has since raised thousands of butterflies at home and through his work. Eric first worked in greenhouse production at Powell, but when the chance to help create a new permanent butterfly garden came up, he couldn’t resist. He also contributed to the cultivation of the new Children’s Garden. Last year, Eric became the lead horticulturist for the North Gardens and Visitor Center Gardens at Powell and is one of the key people in charge of the Festival of Butterflies displays, both tropical and native.
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Design20 Great Plants for Butterflies
Because butterflies need a mix of host and nectar plants to survive, butterfly gardens also provide a wonderful cornucopia of beauty for the gardener. Annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs that…
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DesignHow to Build a Successful Butterfly Garden
With their populations in decline, butterflies need all the help they can get. Host and nectar plants are the key components for a butterfly garden. However, it’s a good idea…
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DesignHow to Create a Butterfly Haven
I will never forget when I became hooked on butterflies. It was 2007, my first year working at Powell Gardens in Kingsville, Missouri. Each spring the garden includes milkweeds (Asclepias…
Fine Gardening Magazine
