Florida Butterfly Gardens. Now is the time to visit. Why? Butterflies are solar powered. Their prime tie is when it is 80 degrees and above.
Turns out April through September is perfect butterfly weather in Florida.
But I have to say the temptations you will face are great.
Seeing beautiful butterfly gardens quickly leads to the sin of envy followed by greed leading to lust. Heavens!
Let’s hear it for lust.
A Short List of Florida Butterfly Gardens
To get you started down the sinful road, here is a short list of butterfly gardens worth visiting around the state.
Butterfly World in Coconut Creek is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
You walk through large bubble enclosures loaded with butterflies, moths and birds. Admission is $29.95 for adults and seniors, $21.95 for children ages 3-11. Phone number: 954-977-4434.
Butterfly Estates in Fort Myers is part of the Shops at Butterfly Estates. The conservatory is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and has butterfly releases every day at 10:30 a.m. They are closed on Mondays.
On their Website you can download a free guide for host and nectar plants needed for your garden to become butterfly friendly.
Admission is $10 for ages 13 and up, $6 for ages 3-12. There is a $1 discount for seniors and for Florida residents with valid I.D. Phone: 239-690-2359.
Lukas Nursery and Butterfly Encounter in Oviedo has it all – butterflies galore plus host and nectar plants. In fact their bird and butterfly conservatory is named one of the top 25 attractions in Central Florida.
Butterfly Encounter hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Admission is $6 ages three and up. Phone: 407-365-6163,
Butterfly Rainforest inside the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville has butterfly releases at 2 p .m. Monday through Friday and at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m., weather permitting, on Sundays. Rainforest admission is $13 for adults, $11 for Florida residents, $11 for seniors and $6 for ages 3-17. Phone: 352-846-2000.
Bemused by butterflies but none come to your garden even though you planted a red Penta as a nectar plant and milkweed for the monarchs plus a pipe vine for swallowtails?
Consider Jump starting Your Butterfly Garden
Consider a jumpstart to get going.
Flutterby Gardens in Bradenton sells butterflies and supplies. Phone: 941-807-2416.
Bottom line: The seven cardinal sins are pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth.
You have an excellent chance to commit at least three -greed, lust, envy – just by visiting butterfly gardens.
Then following up with a butterfly garden of your own could lead to the sin of pride.
Go for it. Tis the season for butterfly sin.
SPRING READING
The second edition of my Florida gardening book is the “go to” book for gardening – especially rich in chapters on bringing butterflies to your garden, patio, or containers. A perfect spring addition to your library, buy your copy here:
Do pick up a copy of the May/June issue of Florida Gardening magazine available at garden shops, bookstores, and some newstands. My article “Build a Labyrinth” is on pages 30-32.
More to Explore
Florida Butterfly Gardening is Addictive
Monarch Butterflies Need YOU Now
Flutter with the Butterflies