Butterfly Gardens of

 San Diego County

The County's Regional Park-Visitor's Center in the Tijuana River Valley, has officially opened it's Bird & Butterfly Garden on December 13th, 2002, south of Imperial Beach. Located off of Hollister Rd., between Monument Road and Sunset Road. To get there, take I-5 South to Imperial Beach, and take the Coronado Ave exit. Go straight through the traffic light, and the road becomes Hollister Rd. After going a ways, you'll cross over a steel bridge, and turn right immediately into the parking lot of the Visitor's Center. The Center is not open to the public right now, as they are building/ cleaning up this park currently, but the Butterfly attracting plants are there.

Balboa Park- This large park has many gardens, Zoro Garden is a sunken garden located between the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and the Casa de Balboa. In this stone grotto a butterfly garden has been planted which contains both the larvae and nectar plants needed for all cycles of the complete life cycle of butterflies. Milkweed, sunflower, passion vine and California lilac were included as suitable plants for the butterfly larvae (caterpillar) stage, and butterfly bush, lantana, pincushion flower and verbena were added as nectar plants for the adult butterflies. Miniature indentations built into rocks collect small pools of water for the monarch, sulfur, and swallowtail butterflies that can be seen among the colorful perennials and majestic Ficus trees that surround the garden. Open 365 days a year, free.

Quail Botanical Gardens- This large botanical garden is a wonderful and beautiful garden located in Encinitas, and they are attempting to build a garden for the Butterflies. It's listed on their web site, but no shovels have hit the ground as of yet. To reach the QBG. From I-5, take Encinitas Blvd. Go east 1/2 mile to Quail Gardens Drive; turn left. The entrance to The Gardens is on the left. Hours 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Admission (effective 1/1/98) Adults $5.00, Seniors $4.00, Children (5-12) $2.00, Under 5 FREE, Members FREE, Free admission 1st Tuesday of the month. Click "here" to visit their web site.