A butterfly fluttered over what was a soon-to-be colorful garden space along the perimeter of the Fun Space II Playground at Dickinson Memorial Park, on June 2. Little did the large, bright yellow insect know - or could her intuition actually have been spot on? - that flowers used to attract butterflies were to be planted right where she kept circling and finally landed. The flowers were several yards from the area, but it was as if this one knew what was coming.NSB Volunteers Pitch In

Volunteers from Union Savings Bank were at the park last week to plant flowers that draw butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators, efforts that were part of United Way's Day of Action. The park project is a continuation of the goal to bring children and nature together at the playground in a fun, yet educational, environment.

A few young girls from The Children's Adventure Center (CAC) who had been visiting the park joined the group to get an up-close look at the butterfly, a moment that served as the quintessence for what was taking place.

"I can't even believe it," Newtown Parks & Recreation Director Amy Mangold said enthusiastically, after she took a moment to interact with the children.

"Did you know that they help pollinate? They're really important and they're really pretty, aren't they?" Ms Mangold asked the girls, who concurred. "I'm so happy to see you here. It makes me really happy to know this butterfly wants to be here too."

This educational moment, Ms Mangold and Billie Cohen, landscape designer for the project, are optimistic, is the first of many for young learners attending the playground.

"Eventually, we would love this whole park to be a wetlands educational center," said Ms Cohen. Billie Cohen, Ltd Landscape Design Studio also designed the playground.

Ms Cohen unrolled paper plans showing where specific plantings were to go, and directed more than a dozen volunteers.

The landscaping efforts made for an educational experience for the adults, as well, who were equipped with shovels and garden rakes. Ms Cohen explained that a lot of planning went into which plants were selected for the project. In addition to species - such as chives, Iris, Bee balm, Lilac, spicebush, Lobelia, Cardinal flower, and Joe-Pye - that lure pretty wildlife pollinators, those that deter deer and can handle the high water table under the ground surface were selected.

Plants were funded by donations, and selected from garden centers including wholesale nursery Planters' Choice, and Hollandia Nurseries in Bethel.

Ms Cohen made sure those volunteers who did not come with a green thumb, soon had one.

"I get mean if I don't see plants planted correctly," she warned jokingly, before explaining the importance of, among other things, spacing, depth of holes, and backfill.

"Just the fact these volunteers are here today to help us with this special project is extremely heart-warming," said Ms Mangold, adding that United Way reaches out to Newtown Parks & Recreation for volunteer day projects, and that this one seemed to be a win-win scenario.

The volunteers provided a service to assist Newtown Parks & Recreation, fulfilling their volunteer duties and learning a new skill, while they help improve the community.

"I think it's a great concept in that the kids have an opportunity not only to play at the park, but be exposed to nature. At this age, that's perfect learning for them," volunteer Marlene Piché said.

"Any chance we get to give back to the community, we do," added volunteer Anthony Gnolfo, as he dug holes for plants.

While the girls and boys from The Children's Adventure Center were let loose on the Dickinson Park playground, volunteers from Newtown Savings Bank were in Sandy Hook, putting in time at the children's preschool on Riverside Road.

Rhonda McEwen-Thompson and Donna Brunner, among 16 representatives from the Newtown Savings Bank Cares Program, worked in front of the building on Thursday, pulling weeds from the garden outside CAC.

"Newtown Savings Bank supports community service and encourages all of our employees to serve the communities in which we have a footprint," Ms McEwen-Thompson said.

Inside the Riverside Road building, volunteers freshened up the walls with paint, and out back, volunteers sanded wooden playground equipment.

"This is the part we all look forward to every year," said Dave Loftus, while smoothing out the surface on a wooden locomotive. "It's always on this day, and it's always a great day."

United Way of Western Connecticut "improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good," according to unitedway.org. Nearly 470 volunteers from 23 local businesses and corporations were slated to demonstrate their commitment to volunteerism and community support by taking part in the annual Day of Action. Nearly 40 projects were to be completed to benefit more than 20 nonprofit agencies throughout greater Danbury and greater New Milford, on June 2.