Como Sunday Series lights up winter season

Break out of the winter doldrums by attending the Como Community Council’s monthly Sunday Series, three presentations from February to April, all free and open to the public. Learn more about butterflies and moths and how to attract them, travel back in time with a neighborhood historian and pick up some new approaches for gardening with native plants.

First up is Heather Holm, a horticulturist who maintains the popular Restoring the Landscape with Native Plants blog. Her presentation, “Minnesota’s day-flying moths and butterflies,” is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m. at North Dale Recreation Center, 1414 Saint Albans St. N.

“Attracting beautiful moths and butterflies to our landscapes requires more than providing nectar sources,” Holm says. She’ll focus on the moth and butterfly species whose caterpillars require specific native plants to feed on before becoming flying adults. After all, if we don’t provide food plants for caterpillars it’s like having a garden with a ‘No kids allowed’ sign for butterflies and moths.

Holm will discuss the lifecycles of butterflies and moths and their adaptations and survival strategies. Learn more about 20 moth and butterfly species and how our gardens can help them flourish.

The Sunday Series schedule includes Roger Bergerson at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 18, presenting at the Lyngblomsten Care Center Chapel, 1415 Almond Ave. His “Tales of Old Como,” touches on some of our area’s fascinating history.

Landscape designer Erik Olsen closes out the series at 2 p.m. on April 15 with “Beyond coneflowers: Native gardens for city living.” He’s appearing at St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, 1465 Victoria St. N.