Hallberg History
The Hallberg Ranch
In 1883, John F. Hallberg bought 40 acres of scrub timber and brush on Sebastopol's outskirts, initiating the roots of the Hallberg Butterfly Gardens. He and his wife, Louisa Neta Pearson, prospered on their ranch, which eventually spread to 130 acres. They raised hops, berries, cherries, prunes, pears, apples, and three children. John was a trustee of the nearby Oak Grove school.
Louise and Alfred Hallberg parked near what is now known as the dragonfly pond.
Della Hallberg, mother of Louise.
In 1911, Alfred, the Hallberg’s oldest son, married Della Wirts and eventually assumed responsibility for running the ranch. He, too, was a trustee at Oak Grove School, where his two daughters, Louise and Esther, were students through the eighth grade. Della was an avid gardener and a charter member of the Graton Community Club, founded in 1914. In the 1920s, she planted a native vine, Dutchman's Pipe (Aristilochia californica) in her garden. Little did she know that over the next 70 years, her vines would spread, multiply and become a yearly feast for generations of the dramatic black and orange caterpillars which become beautiful black and teal Pipevine Swallowtails. Her plantings marked the beginning of the oldest butterfly garden in the United States.
Louise Hallberg 1917-2017
Louise was born in 1917 to Della and Alfred Hallberg. She attended Oak Grove Elementary School in Graton and remembered riding an electric streetcar to Analy High School in Sebastopol. After graduating, she went on to Santa Rosa Junior College and then to UC Berkeley, where she majored in Political Science. While there weren't many job opportunities for political scientists in rural Sonoma County, Miss Hallberg came home to her family. For 35 years, she worked for Santa Rosa Junior College as Registrar.
She and her mother continued working in the garden, remaining active members of the Graton Community Club. Louise had been a member of the Graton Community Club since 1974, as well as being a lifetime member of the California Native Plant Society since the 1960s.
Louise Hallberg circa 1922
Hallberg Butterfly Gardens
When Louise retired in 1975, she began to concentrate even more on the plants, birds, and insects on her family land. The large populations of Pipevine Swallowtails nurtured over the years by Della's original plantings of Aristolochia inspired her to learn more about their life cycle and butterflies in general. Her research fascinated her, especially when she realized that her actions as a gardener and landowner could have a big effect on local butterfly populations' well-being. She worked tirelessly to educate people about habitat and butterflies. In 1997, Louise's Garden was established as a non-profit 501c3 corporation, and we launched our tradition of opening the garden to the public on our "Open Gardens Day." About the same time, some teachers from Oak Grove School asked if they could bring their classes to see the Gardens, so we started school tours. Word spread, and more schools began coming. Over the years, Hallberg Butterfly Gardens has had thousands of visitors and has been featured in books, magazines, newspapers, and even television programs! People come from near and far, even other countries, to see her gardens and butterflies. Louise's indomitable spirit and profound message inspire volunteers to continue her work in the gardens.
1988 Louise was recognized by NOAA for 20 years of Government Service recording the weather.
Rainfall Records (1900 - 2015) - Louise’s handwritten account of over 100 years of rainfall totals. The data was collectively recorded by Louise and her father, Alfred.
Louise Hallberg and Charles Lahm circa 2017. Charles was a dear friend and long-time supporter of the Gardens.
Louise Hallberg and an anise swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) Photo taken for an article in the Press Democrat
“By sharing the knowledge of butterflies and providing for their habitat, we seek to promote and inspire the appreciation and conservation of the wonders of nature.
It is my fervent wish to enhance and preserve the Hallberg Butterfly Gardens so that future generations will always have the opportunity to behold the beauty of nature's wonderful miracle - the butterfly.”
— Louise Hallberg, 1997