A painted lady butterfly resting on a bed of chrysanthemums
Our mission

Exploring butterfly conservation, one pop-up at a time.

Help us spark the curiosities that bring about change.

Raised by hand

From caterpillar to winged wonder.

We breed and rear many of the butterflies from their caterpillar stage at our private facility in Phillips Ranch, CA.

We fill the enclosure with butterfly species that are native to the California region. Plants that butterflies like to feed on or lay their eggs on are placed inside the enclosure.

“Immerse yourself in the fascinating life cycle of butterflies — from delicate eggs to exquisite winged wonders.”

Native to California

The butterflies you'll meet.

A red admiral butterfly on echinacea blooms

Red Admiral

Bold red bands on a velvet-dark wing.

A Monarch butterfly

Monarch

The iconic orange-and-black migrator.

A Painted Lady butterfly

Painted Lady

A worldwide traveler, found on every continent but Antarctica.

A Giant Swallowtail butterfly

Giant Swallowtail

The largest butterfly in North America.

A Cabbage White butterfly

Cabbage White

A familiar, delicate garden visitor.

Complete metamorphosis

The four-stage transformation.

1

Egg

Laid on native host plants, no bigger than a pinhead.

2

Caterpillar

The larva eats and grows, molting as it goes.

3

Chrysalis

Inside, the body remakes itself entirely.

4

Butterfly

Wings harden, and a new flyer takes to the air.

Why it matters

The pressures they face.

Learn about the hurdles they face due to habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use.

Every exhibit is a chance to spark the curiosity that leads to protecting pollinators and the native plants they depend on.

Where we've been

Partners & hosts.

  • Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts
  • San Bernardino County Regional Parks
  • Murphy Ranch Elementary School
  • San Bernardino County Museum
  • San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
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