8th Annual Moth Night 2026

July 18th from 7:30 pm until 11:30 pm

Celebrate the “butterflies of the night” with an evening of observation and creativity.

On the first night of National Moth Week 2026, guests are invited to walk the Gardens’ trails under a waning crescent moon and record nightlife observations. Registration Required - thank you!

The event is not a guided tour but will be hosted by curator Meghan Peterman. After a Welcome Orientation, guests can come and go as they please—with the company of a Moth Night event map. One can stroll the garden trails, join scheduled events, or follow Meghan as she explores the garden! The UV light stations typically see “the peak” of moth activity between 10 and 11 pm, but we understand if you head to bed early! Interested in Nature Journaling your experience at night? Check out this fun and informative video - 'How to Nature Journal at Night' by Marley Peifer.

Observations from this event will be posted on our INaturalist Project Page - “2026- Moth Night - 8th Annual”

Check out our Nightlife Observations from previous years.

What to Bring (gear not provided):

• Flashlight/headlamp - for walking dirt paths and navigating uneven surfaces at night.

• Camera, phone - participants can help us record observations by uploading photos to INaturalist.org. It’s as easy as posting on Social media!

• Warm layers - it can get pretty cold at night.

• Camping chairs are optional - we have benches in the gardens, but they are not near the UV light stations.

• Blue light glasses are optional if you are bothered by blue light.

• Garden Map with Parking (An Event map is provided onsite)

Schedule of Events

One incredible feature of evening activities is that they often follow a regular schedule. Below is the schedule from 2022. The timing of the listed plant & animal events will vary each year. We will not have the exact timing until the event.

7:30 pm - Welcome Orientation (15 mins).

8:50 pm - Dance of the primrose - watch the flowers burst open—an invitation for nocturnal visitors.

9:15 pm - Descent of Lucille, the spotted orb weaver.

9: 30 - Storytelling under the oak tree.

10 - 11:30 pm - UV Station observation, explore the garden, and discover nightlife.