Moth Ball 2026

When the Garden Goes Dark, the Night Shift Clocks In

There’s a whole world that wakes up after sunset  and most of us sleep right through it. This summer, we’re staying up for it. Join us for Moth Ball 2026, an evening with the quiet, clever, criminally underrated pollinators who keep our ecosystems running long after the bees have called it a night. Co-sponsored by Grow Native Massachusetts, the event features entomologist Teá Montagna, who specializes in Lepidoptera — the order that includes both moths and butterflies. With her expert eye to guide us, we’ll explore the surprising diversity of moths living right in our own backyards.

Arrive at sunset for a tour of the garden led by Leisha Johnson of GardensByTheYard.com, who designed and tends this 1.5-acre former turf lawn, now a thriving habitat that shows the power of rewilding in action. Then, as night falls, we’ll set up light traps and white sheets to draw in a wide range of moth species for an up-close look. Bring a camera and you can photograph and document your sightings on iNaturalist, turning a night in the garden into real biodiversity data.

Admission is free but you must register!