Garden Club certifies Asclepias Acres as a butterfly sanctuary

For Hometown News newsdy@hometownnewsmediagroup.com

Jul 3, 2025 Updated Jul 3, 2025

Damien Rockwood, left, owner of Asclepias Acres, accepts a sanctuary certification from New Smyrna Beach Garden Club members, from left, Marty Sibley, Sue Schwulst, Hope Jenkins, Lola Duckworth and Patti Shawen.

Photo courtesy of Mike Shannon

The New Smyrna Beach Garden Club has certified Asclepias Acres, a newly established plant sanctuary and wildlife habitat in Edgewater, as a Butterfly Sanctuary Garden.

To commemorate the achievement, the sanctuary hosted a two-day public plant sale on its scenic 5.5-acre property at 3001 Citrus Drive, welcoming hundreds of visitors to support Florida’s native flora and pollinator habitats. The event showcased a wide selection of native plants and featured educational opportunities about pollinator conservation and the role of native ecosystems in Florida’s environment.

The certification reflects the sanctuary’s commitment to environmental stewardship and its efforts to create a thriving ecosystem for butterflies, birds, bees, and other beneficial wildlife, a news release states. Asclepias Acres continues to develop programming and plant offerings to educate the public and foster appreciation for Florida’s natural biodiversity.