Butterfly exhibit at Airlie Gardens starts in August

Butterflies will soon be fluttering by at Airlie Gardens.

Staff is busy setting up Airlie Takes Flight -- a butterfly exhibit set to open August 1.

It is a display of at least eight live butterfly species, all native to our region.

The butterfly house contains nectar plants that will be food for the butterflies.

Airlie Gardens staff says butterflies are a great way to teach people about life cycles and preserving nature.

Environmental Educational program coord. Matthew Collogan said, "We hope that we can inspire, educate and convey to the public that if you want these beautiful native creatures in your yard, you need to plant native plants and encourage them since a lot of their habitat is disappearing."

Next year, the hope is to have a breeding program, to rear the caterpillars from egg to adult.