SOUTH PARIS — The McLaughlin Garden and Homestead will celebrate National Public Garden Day at 3 p.m. Friday, May 8, with an illustrated lecture by Dr. Ron Butler. His topic will be “The Maine Butterfly Survey, What Have We Learned?”

Butler, an ecology professor at the University of Maine at Farmington, has worked with other entomologists and ecologists on inventorying the state’s butterflies. This summer is the last year of work on this survey, but it also marks the beginning of the team’s next project, “The Maine Bumble Bee Atlas.”

The group began its work in 1998 on the Maine Damselfly and Dragonfly Survey under the direction of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The McLaughlin Garden invites the public to attend and hear about Maine’s pollinators. The presentation is free.

Butler’s talk is part of the garden’s annual Wildflower Festival. The wildflower weekend, which includes Mother’s Day, celebrates the wonderful collection of wildflowers Bernard McLaughlin planted and kicks off the gardening season. The Garden is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 8, 9 and 10. Tours will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. on Friday and at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The garden’s plant sales will begin with many unusual as well as tried and true plants available. Some are divisions from the garden. The gift shop will also be open. The garden is located at 97 Main St., South Paris.