Garden Club of Coral Springs opens new season with inspiring event focused on wildflowers butterflies and creating backyard habitats for native wildlife
Coral Springs, Florida – With the growing awareness of the importance of native plants and pollinators, the Garden Club of Coral Springs is set to launch its 2025–2026 season in full bloom. The club will host a special event on Thursday, September 11, spotlighting how even the smallest garden spaces can become vital sanctuaries for butterflies, birds, and native wildflowers.
The free event, titled “Nature-Inspired Landscaping – Wildflower Meadows & Butterflies,” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Northwest Regional Library, located at 3151 N. University Drive in Coral Springs. It will feature CJ McCartney, a board member of the Florida Wildflower Foundation and passionate environmental educator, who will share her experience and insight on making nature-friendly choices in everyday landscaping.
“This is a great way to kick off the season,” said event organizers. “We want to show people that a small space can have a big impact.”
McCartney, originally from Chicago, began her conservation journey after relocating to South Florida in the late 1990s. Since then, she has become a voice for native habitat preservation, advocating for the transformation of traditional yards into vibrant, living ecosystems. Her approach blends science and art—she designs butterfly gardens, photographs wild flora, and builds spaces where pollinators can thrive.
Her message is simple but powerful: homeowners don’t need acres of land to support Florida’s struggling pollinator populations. Even modest patches of wildflowers or native shrubs can offer crucial food sources and shelter for butterflies, bees, and birds.
In addition to her work with the Florida Wildflower Foundation, McCartney serves as the Master Gardener in Residence at the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden, and shares her passion on Instagram through her handle @botanizingbirdingbutterflies, where she documents Florida’s wild landscapes and the species that depend on them.
For the Garden Club, the event not only signals the start of a new year but also highlights the club’s evolving mission—to educate, inspire, and encourage environmental stewardship among local residents. The club’s monthly meetings, held from September through May, include expert talks, nature-based field trips, and plenty of community connection over refreshments.
This upcoming program promises to offer both beauty and purpose. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or someone with just a balcony full of potted plants, McCartney’s presentation will leave attendees with practical ideas and renewed motivation to support Florida’s biodiversity—right in their own backyards.
Admission is free and open to the public. Garden enthusiasts, conservationists, and curious locals alike are invited to attend and discover how they can play a role in protecting the natural world, one plant at a time.
