Local Girl Scout Partners with Garden Circle of Friends to Build Butterfly Garden in Downtown Lakeville
Updated: August 26, 2025, at 10 PM.
In case you missed the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday afternoon, we have video from the ceremony above with a photo album of a few photos we captured from the event below.
ORIGINAL STORY - LAKEVILLE, MINNESOTA - A new butterfly garden is taking root in downtown Lakeville, thanks to the vision and determination of local Girl Scout Isla Engh and the support of the Garden Circle of Friends and the City of Lakeville Parks Department. Together, they have transformed James Jensen Park into a welcoming space for pollinators while creating a new destination for the community to enjoy.
The project began when Isla, a member of Girl Scout Troop 27347 of the Girl Scouts of River Valleys, learned about the alarming decline of native butterflies. Monarch populations alone have dropped more than 70% in the last decade. Wanting to take action, Isla reached out to the Garden Circle of Friends, a Lakeville-based nonprofit dedicated to enhancing local gardens and green spaces.
The group immediately embraced the idea, identifying James Jensen Park as the perfect location. Already in the process of revitalizing the park with cleanup efforts and plans for a pollinator-friendly space, the collaboration quickly took shape. The City of Lakeville welcomed the initiative as part of its ongoing effort to enhance local parks through community partnerships. In addition, local businesses stepped up with generous donations, and the Garden Circle of Friends secured a grant from the Federated Garden Club of Minnesota to help bring the project to life.
Designed for Pollinators and People
The butterfly garden features a variety of native plants carefully selected to attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators essential to a healthy ecosystem. Beyond its ecological role, the garden provides a serene and vibrant setting for residents and visitors to enjoy.
To extend the project’s impact beyond the park, Isla also created a seed library with the help of a neighbor. The library offers free seed packets and educational materials, empowering Lakeville residents to start their own butterfly-friendly gardens at home.
Celebration and Ribbon Cutting
To recognize the collaboration that made the garden possible, a community celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Tuesday, August 26, at 4:30 p.m. at James Jensen Park, located at 20390 Howland Avenue in Lakeville. The event will honor the efforts of Isla, the Garden Circle of Friends, the City of Lakeville Parks Department, local businesses, and supporters who contributed to the project.
About the Partners
The Garden Circle of Friends is a Minnesota nonprofit made up of local residents who share a passion for community service, pollinator health, and gardening. Girl Scouts of River Valleys (GSRV) serves girls across Minnesota and Wisconsin, fostering leadership, inclusivity, and community engagement. Troop 27347, to which Isla belongs, is among the many groups inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Written by: Will Wight
