Dwyer Park

Size
1.23 acres

History
The Winnetka Park District purchased Dwyer Park in parcels from various families and Winnetka Public School District 36 from 1941 – 1959.

Cornhole + Ping Pong
Cornhole bags and ping pong equipment are available to use for free at Winnetka Park District in the Administration Building; inquire inside at 540 Hibbard Road.

Butterfly Garden

The butterfly garden was originally established in 1998 by Garden Guild of Winnetka, and has been maintained by its members since. In conjunction with the redevelopment of Dwyer Park in 2016, Garden Guild collaborated with the Winnetka Park District to redesign and refresh the garden. It is a beautiful landmark in our community and a crucial habitat for butterflies and bees.

PLANTS

All the plants in the garden serve as nurseries for caterpillars and/or nectar sources for butterflies. The garden features two different species of milkweed — the only feeding source for monarch caterpillars and the only plant that monarch butterflies will lay their eggs on.

Blooms start in spring, with white daffodils and purple grape hyacinth. Summer exhibits intense color from orange and yellow yarrow, purple coneflower, and magenta blazing star. Fall brings the jewel tones of asters, goldenrod, and ornamental grasses. Take some time to smell the fragrance of butterfly bush, garden phlox, and sweet pepperbush. Nearly 30 botanical plant markers are on-site to aid in identification, and the Life Cycle of the Butterfly sign at the west corner of the garden is great for children.

We encourage you to enjoy this garden gem throughout the seasons! Stop by to read a book, have your morning coffee, or to find ideas for your own pollinator garden at home (check out the full plant list  by clicking the button below).

To learn more, visit the Garden Guild of Winnetka website or reach out to Meg O’Gara at mogara1@me.com.

A friendly note: please do not capture the butterflies, as this is their home.

Butterfly Garden Plant List

SMITHSONIAN ARCHIVES

In 2024, the Dwyer Park Butterfly Garden was added to the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Gardens! This accomplishment was made possible by the hard work and dedication of the Winnetka Garden Guild. The process of submitting a garden to the Archives can span over a couple years due to the paperwork, obtaining photographic images during the four seasons, and more. We sat down with Winnetka Garden Guild members Meg, 14-year member, and Pam, 27-year member, to celebrate their documentation into the Archives, and discuss what the Guild does for the Dwyer Park Butterfly Garden. View the video by clicking the button below.

Smithsonian Archives Celebration Video