Our Butterfly Garden
In our back yard in central Florida, we have been able to "raise" and release six different varieties of butterflies. Shown here is a Gulf Fritillary.
A nursery for caterpillars and pupa
We created the little house below to raise our caterpillars. If they aren't protected, the frogs and lizards will find them and eat them for a midnight snack. Even on the screened patio, they aren't safe. It's said that only 2-3 out of 100 eggs laid by the butterflies will make it through to hatching because their predators are many. The eggs are fodder for insects, wasps, lizards and other creatures. The caterpillars are food for birds, frogs and other predators.
On the top shelf are the Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars feeding on Pipevine leaves. On the bottom shelf are the passion vines with the Zebra Longwings caterpillars.
If you plant
milkweed, they will come! Plan your garden to
include plants that will attract butterflies for nectar or
for laying their eggs on. 
"Just living is not enough," said the
butterfly. "One must have sunshine,
freedom, and a little flower."