Step into the Enchanting World of Butterflies at Norfolk Botanical Garden

The Summer Butterfly House

Open: June 15 - September 30

Our Summer Butterfly House offers an up-close look at native butterflies in a vibrant, enclosed habitat filled with nectar-rich plants. Originally a temporary exhibit in 2009, its popularity led to it becoming a permanent annual experience, now welcoming over 45,000 visitors each summer.

Located in Bristow Butterfly Garden: The 2.5-acre Bristow Butterfly Garden provides a habitat to attract and support butterflies and moths during all stages of their life cycle. Within the garden you will find a swallowtail and monarch nursery, nectar garden, moonlight garden and butterfly bush collection. Our Butterfly House opens seasonally and provides an up-close experience with a variety of butterflies.

Discover the Butterfly Life Cycle

Here you can see not just butterflies, but their full life cycle! Watch butterflies in action, discover caterpillars and chrysalises, and learn about the fascinating process of metamorphosis, including the monarch butterfly’s migration.

Protecting Butterflies, Moths, and Their Habitats

Learn about the importance of pollinators, habitat conservation, and how you can help these essential insects. Discover native butterflies, moths, and the plants that support them, and find out how you can make a difference by protecting these species and creating habitats for their survival.

Please be mindful of the house guidelines
when visiting:

Maintain ONE-WAY traffic through the Butterfly House and walk only on pathways
Please do not apply aerosol sunscreen in the house
No dogs in the house at any time
Do not touch any specimens. We understand butterflies will land where they like, but please, for their safety, do not initiate contact

Please do not pick the flowers or plant materials
Do not collect any specimens from the exhibit
Mind your feet! Please be cautious of the living collection as you enter their habitat, and check benches and pathways for specimens

Monarch Watch

Norfolk Botanical Garden tags monarchs in the Summer Butterfly House, along with wild monarchs, as they prepare for their migration to Mexico. Tags are provided by Monarch Watch, and NBG’s butterflies are sequence AEUR 225-724.

Learn more