Residents of Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes formed The Friends of Monarch Club, a group dedicated to sustaining the monarch butterfly species. After obtaining approval from the HOA, the club transformed a half-acre unused community space on Huron Lane into a vibrant butterfly garden.
Founded just one year ago, The Friends of the Monarch Club now has approximately 200 members, with about 33 actively maintaining the garden plots. “My original goal was to promote monarch-friendly plants in individual yards and gardens,” said Paul Beggs, The Friends of Monarch Club Chair. “But we’ve expanded this vision by creating a butterfly garden here at Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes.”
The project began in December 2023 and was completed by June 2024. Paul’s wife, Sherry, an artist, played a key role in designing the garden, which takes the shape of a tree. The main path represents the tree trunk, the smaller walking paths form the limbs, and the garden beds symbolize the tree’s canopy.
The garden includes a variety of native plants, including five or six types of milkweed, sunflowers, bridal wreath spirea, wild asters, goldenrod and a wildflower meadow, all chosen to attract and sustain pollinators like Monarch butterflies.
“At Kolter Homes, we believe in fostering a vibrant and engaging lifestyle for our residents. Our support of the Cresswind Georgia Butterfly Garden and clubs like the Friends of the Monarch Club is a reflection of our commitment to encouraging homeowners to pursue their passions and interests,” said Jennifer Landers, Community Director at Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes. “Through our lifestyle programs, we aim to create spaces where residents can connect and share their hobbies while contributing to the vitality of their communities.”
Monarchs are migratory, passing through Georgia in the spring and fall. Beggs is optimistic that by spring 2025, the established milkweed will attract Monarchs as they journey from Mexico to Canada. “We have only spotted a few Monarch butterflies so far, but we see dozens of other butterfly species daily,” Beggs noted. “It has become a beautiful and peaceful space for the community.”
The Friends of the Monarch Club operates without membership dues, instead relying on contributions from residents, ranging from $20 to $500, along with donations of benches, picnic tables, Adirondack chairs and birdhouses. One resident, Pat Sileo, held two fundraisers that raised $5,000. Other in-kind contributions include horse manure for augmenting the soil and mulch for walking paths.
Paul’s interest in Monarch butterfly conservation has grown steadily. Paul and Sherry Beggs, both Master Gardeners, have been longtime butterfly enthusiasts. After moving to Cresswind, Paul realized that planting milkweed alone wouldn’t make a significant impact, but working together, the community could create a meaningful habitat. “It’s hard work but also incredibly rewarding,” he added. “The Friends of Monarch Club is giving back to the community and earth while making valuable friendships and connections,” said Paul Beggs. “Our goal is to inspire Hoschton to be a butterfly-friendly town.”
The club’s efforts to create a thriving butterfly habitat align with broader conservation measures, given that monarch butterflies were declared endangered in 2020.
In addition to The Friends of Monarch Club, Cresswind Georgia offers various resident-led clubs, including the Veterans Club, Cooking Club, Just Craftin’ Around Club, Dance Club, Pickleball Club, Trail Blazer’s Hiking Club and many more!
Named for the two large lakes on the property, Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes offers residents extensive outdoor amenities. These include fishing, kayaking or canoeing on either of the two lakes, walking trails, a resort-style pool, event lawn, community garden, and, most notably, 21 pickleball courts and a covered “Eagle’s Nest” spectators pavilion, with plans to expand to over 40 total pickleball courts to become the largest private pickleball complex in Georgia. The Club at Cresswind offers a lounge with relaxing lakeside views, an indoor pool with lap lanes, the cutting-edge SmartFIT Training Center powered by EGYM, an arts and crafts room and multiple event spaces.
Priced from the high $300,000sto over $1 million, homes at Cresswind Georgia feature flexible floor plans that can be personalized with options like golf cart garages, finished or unfinished upper-level bonus rooms, daylight basements, flexible room configurations and enclosed patios, and hundreds of finish choices at the community’s on-site Design Studio.
To learn more about Cresswind Georgia, visit www.CresswindGeorgia.com. For more information regarding Cresswind communities throughout Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, visit www.Cresswind.com.