Butterfly House

Please note that if the weather is not suitable for the butterflies (cold, foggy, humid), the Butterfly House may be closed. You may want to call 949-645-8489 before coming.

The ENC's Butterfly House is the only one of its kind in Orange County. It is home to several butterfly species native to the County, including Mourning Cloak, Lorquin's Admiral, Monarch, Queen, Buckeye, West Coast Lady, Painted Lady, California Dogface (our state butterfly), Cloudless Sulphur and Anise Swallowtail. The Butterfly House was made possible by a gift from the Rotary Club of Okazaki South in Japan and the Rotary Club of Newport Balboa as a joint centennial community service project. Additional funding was received from Pacific Life Foundation and Home Depot.

ENC staff and volunteers planted 45 different host and nectar plants for the native Orange County butterflies that live within the Butterfly House. The plants have matured, and each Spring the leaves are munched by caterpillars; the flowers provide nectar to the mature butterflies. Within the House is a "nursery" where guests can witness adult butterflies emerge from chrysalises.