The Hatchery Butterfly Farm

06/04/2026

It’s full on butterfly season. Thinks how we ship pupae to exhibits across the United States!

06/03/2026

Some behind the scenes action

1 • massive cecropia caterpillars — “are you kidding me?!”
2 • some collected specimens from the flight house
3 • monarch caterpillars in various stages of forming their chrysalis; one is right in the middle of shedding its skin 😱
4 • black swallowtails laying eggs
5 • hundreds of red admiral eggs on pellitory
6 • never-ending process of bleaching milkweed
7 • male regal fritillary
8 • an incredibly hot day spent cutting milkweed in Reno county

05/30/2026

Come to the today for plants and butterflies! 😍

05/28/2026

I basically live in the lab. Monarch caterpillars are chowing down on common and sand milkweed and are thriving!

05/22/2026

Woohoo! Finally. The Hatchery’s Butterfly Experience will be at the

Join us for a hands-on experience with some of our native butterflies, buy some plants and experience the market.

05/20/2026

Outdoorsy friends -- beware of ticks!

Tick season is in full swing, y'all😲 While ticks can transmit diseases, if you're properly prepared, they don't have to stop you from enjoying the outdoors!

Here's some top tips for safely exploring:
1. Avoid tall grass, bushes, and wooded areas with lots of leaf litter. Stick to the center of trails.
2. Use insect repellent on your skin and/or permethrin on your clothing. If you're wearing sunscreen, apply that first, then insect repellent.
3. Wear long sleeves and pants that are tucked into high socks or boots.
Bonus tip- bring a lint roller or roll of duct tape along to easily remove ticks (especially "seed" ticks) from your clothing.

Check for ticks on your clothing and yourself when you're back indoors. They especially like hiding in warm crevices, around your waist, and around hair. If you find a tick, DON'T PANIC. Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove the tick as close to your skin as possible so you fully remove the head. Wrap it tightly in tape or submerge it in alcohol and keep it just in case you develop an illness. Learn more here: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/index.html

01/24/2026

As I was working yesterday to prep the gardens and greenhouse for the winter storm, I discovered these two spicebush pupae on one of the spicebush in the front yard. Butterflies are crazy. I’m still in awe that these creatures survive winter by producing a chemical that inhibits the formation of ice crystals inside their developing bodies. Living popsicles. Life finds a way.