Demonstration Gardens

Public Works Butterfly Garden

The City of Princeton was awarded a grant from the Native Plant Society of Texas to plant a Monarch Demonstration Garden at the new Public Works building. This garden consists of native milkweed and nectar plants that give the monarchs a waystation while migrating. Girl Scout Troop 3931 volunteered their time to plant the garden at the new Public Works building and learned about monarchs and their importance. The garden has been used as an educational tool for all Princeton residents and will continue to be so, it is open to participating in and is now contributed to by the Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalists and other volunteers.

J.M Caldwell Sr. Community Park Native Garden

Keep Princeton Beautiful was awarded an $800-dollar Native Garden Grant in 2018. Cub Scout Pack 229 and 450 volunteered their time to plant the garden at the J.M. Caldwell Sr. Community Park/World War II POW Camp. They learned about the importance of using native plants and their water-efficient properties. This space is now maintained by the Texas Master Naturalists Blackland Prairie Chapter and remains open to the public for contributions and participation. 

Learn more about the Texas Master Naturalists Blackland Prairie Chapter

Learn about the local ecoregion from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Some plants you may find in the gardens include:

• Green milkweed
• Butterfly weed
• Gaillardia
• Texas sage
• Black-eyed Susan
• Mexican Hat
• Coneflower
• Yucca
• Blazing star
• Little Bluestem

We recommend these plants for your gardens and landscapes as well!

The importance of native plants cannot be overstated. Their roots are deep and contribute to erosion control, they attract and feed native pollinators and birds assisting in sustaining life and biodiversity, and they’re designed specifically for this region – meaning once established, they require little to no upkeep, care, or watering, meaning overall less water usage, composting, or fertilizing. Please choose native!

Native Plants

• Tolerate drought and local diseases
• Conserves water and protects water quality by controlling soil erosion
• Provides food sources (seeds, nuts, nectar, and fruits for birds, bats, pollinating insects, and butterflies)
• Attracts insects for birds to consume
• Provides habitats for birds, wildlife, and larval host plants for butterflies
• Less maintenance
• Minimizes use of fertilizers and pesticides