NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk Botanical Garden (NBG) has been nominated for USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Butterfly Garden in the United States. The Garden’s 2.5-acre Bristow Butterfly Garden offers a thriving habitat that attracts and supports native butterflies and moths throughout every stage of their life cycle. Visitors can explore dedicated areas including a swallowtail and monarch nursery, nectar garden, moonlight garden and the popular Butterfly House.
Opening in mid-June, the Butterfly House gives guests an immersive experience with native butterflies in a vibrant, enclosed habitat filled with nectar-rich plants. Originally introduced as a temporary exhibit in 2009, its overwhelming popularity led to its establishment as a permanent annual attraction and serves as a valuable educational resource that welcome more than 45,000 visitors each summer. Staff and volunteers also use it to teach students about the butterfly life cycle, metamorphosis, pollinator behavior and the monarch butterfly’s remarkable migration.
Supporting pollinator conservation is central to NBG’s mission to lead through environmental action. The decline in butterfly and moth populations—due in part to pesticide overuse, climate change and habitat loss—underscores the urgency of conservation efforts. Protecting these pollinators is essential to maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
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About Norfolk Botanical Garden Norfolk Botanical Garden represents an oasis of more than 65 themed gardens encompassing 175 beautiful acres. From stunning plant collections to WOW - World of Wonders: A Children’s Adventure Garden, this diverse natural beauty can be explored by tram, boat, or walking tours. The Garden is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, recognized as a Virginia Historic Landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Virginia Green attraction. It is managed by Norfolk Botanical Garden, Inc. and supported by the City of Norfolk. The mission of Norfolk Botanical Garden is to immerse visitors in a world of beauty, lead through environmental action and inspire through education and connection to nature. Admission is $21.00 for adults, $19.00 for seniors and military, $16.00 for ages 3-12, 2 and under are free. Explore our reduced admission programs: Norfolk Power Up and Museums for All and voted #3 Best Botanical Garden in the U.S. through Newsweek. For more information, visit www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org.