On Aug. 30, the Fenton community gathered around the award-winning “Butterfly Garden” to accept the Community Landscape Beautification Award. 

The Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association recognized the Fenton Beautification Commission for their work to beautify the community. This recognition was specifically awarded to the “Butterfly Garden” located at 301 S. LeRoy Street, downtown. According to the Tri-County Times, the stainless steel sculpture stands at 9 feet six inches tall and 9 feet wide and is surrounded by a multitude of colorful flowers to attract butterflies, as well as attractive lighting to draw the eye at nighttime.

The Fenton Beautification Commission works to keep the city of Fenton looking visually appealing.

“We work to beautify the community and make sure people are aware of different ordinances,” Secretary for Beautifications Karey Sage said. 

Although these garden projects draw the eye, they are also very costly. 

“While the Downtown Development Authority helped with part of the funding,” Sage said, “the butterfly sculpture itself was donated by the owners of Fenton Home Furnishings (Gerald and Kay Willey) to the Fenton community.”  

Through community collaboration like this, Sage and other members of the commission will endeavor to find other projects to beautify the city of Fenton. For more information regarding the Fenton Beautification Commission, visit cityoffenton.org.