NARROWSBURG, NY — The Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, Inc. (UDSB) awarded eight grants valued at a collective $5,482 under its “Promoting Butterflies on the Byway” program in 2018.

Successful projects were submitted on a rolling deadline basis by the following:

March—Narrowsburg Beautification Group, $900 to purchase pollinator-friendly perennials with compost to plant at locations along the UDSB and Narrowsburg walking trails; and Tusten Heritage Community Garden, $475 to print 170 monarch booklets and purchase 30 metal plaques and stakes to identify pollinator plants in the monarch way station located at the entrance to the community garden.

April—Eldred Central School, $1,000 to purchase perennials and annuals, shrubs and grasses, butterfly houses, and materials for monarch butterfly markers and posts for the school’s wildlife gardens; and Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce, $1,200 to purchase milkweed, perennials and annuals; to create bat and butterfly houses and interpretive signage to reclaim the garden at Barryville’s four corners; and to do plantings along Route 97.

June—Lumberland Volunteer Fire Department, $500 to purchase plants, bushes and fertilizer to create a butterfly garden at the Pond Eddy Firehouse.

July—Callicoon Business Association Beautification Committee, $490 to create a butterfly garden surrounding the Welcome-to-Callicoon sign located at Route 97 and Upper Main Street.

August—Potomac River & Trails Council, $400 to re-print 300 copies each of Ed Wesely’s color pamphlets titled “Give Us a Hand” and “Milkweed Fans”; and Tusten Heritage Community Garden, $518 to produce a booklet and to purchase coded, pollinator-plant identification tags leading up to the Narrowsburg Honey Bee Festival in September.

The program is expected to resume in 2019 pursuant to the availability of funds. To request guidelines, a one-page application form, or the brochure; call 845/252-3022 or email info@upperdelawaresce nicbyway.org. Completed applications may be returned electronically or mailed to UDSB, P.O. Box 127, Narrowsburg, NY 12764 by the third Monday of the month for consideration at the byway’s regular meetings on fourth Mondays.

For more on Sullivan County efforts to promote and help monarch butterflies, see Currents.