Though seldom seen due to their nocturnal nature, moths are every bit as beautiful and charismatic as their butterfly cousins. Their role as pollinators is essential to the survival of many of our plants, especially orchids. Most importantly, moths and their caterpillars are food for birds, bats, and countless other animals. We will take a photographic journey into the intriguing world of moths, exploring which of our native plants are most enticing to these lovely Lepidopterans. We can all greatly benefit the ecosystem around us by “moth gardening” in our yards! We are excited to host Chelsea Gottfried, co-author of Gardening for Moths, for this program. This lecture is co-sponsored by West Cook Wild Ones. Register here.
Chelsea Gottfried is a naturalist from Crawford County, Ohio. In 2020, she founded Forest Friends, a nature-based preschool where children learn and explore in nature. An avid native plant gardener and a passionate entomologist, Chelsea’s areas of expertise include moths, bees, dragonflies, and damselflies. She enjoys capturing up-close images of insects and flowers using macrophotography. Her first book, Gardening for Moths: A Regional Guide, which she co-authored with Jim McCormac, was released in 2023 and features many of her photographs.
