MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Meridian Township residents and organizations came together to tidy up the local parks.

As a part of the Love a Park Day event, the Harris Nature Center has the beginning steps to a garden that will attract Monarchs and other local species of butterflies thanks to volunteers who contributed their time and effort on Saturday morning.

The garden will feature milkweed plants such as Butterfly Weed and Swamp Red Milkweed, and nectar plants such as Cup Plant and Rosinweed for adult butterflies. The seeds will hopefully spread out into the meadow over the next few years.

The meadow habitat enhancement will not likely bring a dramatic increase of butterflies to the area, but residents can expect to learn about steps they can take to provide resources for butterflies on their own property while visiting the new point of interest at the Harris Nature Center.

Though Love a Park Day has come to an end, residents have the opportunity to help maintain the park and trails at the Harris Nature Center at monthly Stewardship Mornings.