The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) is considered the prime region in the U.S. for butterflying. About 40% of the 700+ butterflies that can be found in the U.S. can be seen in the subtropical climate of this three-county area at the southernmost tip of Texas.
The National Butterfly Center (www.nationalbutterflycenter.org), a project of the NABA, is located in the LrGv, in Mission, Texas. More than 200 species have been seen at this 100-acre wildlife center, including a number of rarities.
Butterfly World at Tradewinds Park (Coconut Creek, FL; www.butterflyworld.com) is the largest butterfly pavilion in the United States.
USA Butterflying Destinations Photo Gallery
Several botanical gardens have permanent or annual butterfly pavilions or exhibitions. The most prominent of these include the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Garden at
Callaway Gardens (Georgia), the Smithsonian Butterfly Habitat Garden (Washington, DC), the Butterfly Zone at the Conservatory of Flowers (San Francisco, CA), Blooms & Butterflies at the Franklin Park Conservatory (Columbus, OH), and the Butterfly Exhibit at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. The Lisa D. Anness Butterfly Garden opened at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens (Coral Gables, FL) in 2012.
Privately operated butterfly conservatories include Judy Istock Butterfly Haven at Peggy Notebaert Nature Center (Chicago, IL; www.naturemuseum.org), Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory (Key West, FL; www.keywestbutterfly.com), and Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens (South Deerfield, MA; www.magicwings.com).
The Fourth of July and Canada Day butterfly count, an annual census of species conducted by butterfly watchers throughout North America, is an example of citizen science.
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