The Norfolk Botanical Garden is proud to announce the reopening of its acclaimed Butterfly House this Sunday, a vibrant exhibit celebrated as the nation’s top butterfly garden by USA Today’s “10Best” readers.
More than just a home for butterflies, this living garden highlights the essential role of plants and flowers in supporting butterfly life cycles and promoting environmental stewardship.
Since its start as a summer exhibit in 2009, the Butterfly House has blossomed into a permanent sanctuary attracting over 45,000 visitors annually. Inside, guests experience a lush habitat where native plants—from caterpillar host species to nectar-rich blooms—nurture every stage of butterfly development.
This carefully curated garden demonstrates how thoughtful planting can create beauty while fostering conservation.
Visitors don’t just observe butterflies; they share space with them, witnessing magical moments like a chrysalis trembling as a butterfly emerges or caterpillars feeding on milkweed leaves.
Linda Saunders, horticulturist at the Butterfly House, shares, “Watching a butterfly emerge never loses its thrill, and guests’ faces light up with wonder.”
Surrounding the Butterfly House is the expansive 2.5-acre Bristow Butterfly Garden, a showcase of butterfly-friendly gardening that inspires visitors to cultivate their own pollinator havens. Even small spaces can become vibrant with a few native potted plants or vertical gardens.
The Butterfly House also carries an urgent message: pollinators face threats from habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. By planting native flowers and avoiding harmful chemicals, gardeners can make a meaningful difference.
Norfolk Botanical Garden encourages visitors to start with native nectar and host plants, varying flower shapes and bloom times to support diverse pollinators.
For those eager to contribute further, the “Adopt-a-Butterfly” program offers a way to support the garden’s care and educational efforts.
Open through September 30, the Butterfly House invites everyone to reconnect with nature’s beauty and join the mission to protect vital pollinators—one plant, one flower, one butterfly at a time.
