“The bright red, orange and hot pink blooms of the native coral honeysuckle and red buckeye serve as a beacon to the hummingbirds that are moving back into the area. Both of these native flowers have large clusters of tubular flowers perfect for a hummingbird’s long, needlelike bill. The high metabolism of the hummingbird requires lots of high calorie nectar produced by these flowers. Both of these plants can be found adjacent to Serviceberry Lane in the Bird Lover’s Food Forest maintained by the Greater Ozarks Audubon Society as South Creek Greenway enters the park from the east. Look for the native honeysuckle on the arbor south of the butterfly house at the Caterpillar Café, Master Gardener Demonstration Garden and the Vietnam Memorial Arbor. Look for Red Buckeye at the Peace Through People Pavilion, Winter and Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens.”
Katie Keith
Botanical Center Coordinator
Springfield-Greene County Park Board
