Spend a Day with the Butterflies Saturday at Amarillo Botanical Gardens

Brianna Maestas, Amarillo Globe-News
·3 min read

The Amarillo Botanical Gardens (ABG) is inviting the community to experience A Day with the Butterflies on Saturday, Sept 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the gardens, 1400 Streit Dr.

According to ABG, the event is an expansion of their annual Breakfast with the Butterflies. The nonprofit said they received input from the community wanting the event to last longer than just breakfast, and ABG listened.

This year, the Day with the Butterflies will include the traditional breakfast and butterfly release, along with the addition of live music provided by Andy Chase, local food trucks, more than 20 local vendors, art crafts, live educational demonstrations such as a glass honey bee hive, and more.

The Amarillo Botanical Gardens invites the community to experience "A Day with the Butterflies," an expansion of their annual breakfast event, Saturday.
The Amarillo Botanical Gardens invites the community to experience "A Day with the Butterflies," an expansion of their annual breakfast event, Saturday.
The Amarillo Botanical Gardens invites the community to experience "A Day with the Butterflies," an expansion of their annual breakfast event, scheduled to include the traditional breakfast, and butterfly releases as well as live music, food trucks, vendors, arts and crafts, educational demonstrations and much more this Saturday at the gardens.
The Amarillo Botanical Gardens invites the community to experience "A Day with the Butterflies," an expansion of their annual breakfast event, scheduled to include the traditional breakfast, and butterfly releases as well as live music, food trucks, vendors, arts and crafts, educational demonstrations and much more this Saturday at the gardens.

"This event was really inspired by the Monarch butterflies migration, which passes through Amarillo, and year after year, they stop in good numbers here at the gardens," Greg Lusk, executive director for the botanical gardens, said. "I guess they know where they can get a free lunch. So, this is something we created to celebrate the fall season and the migration of the butterflies as they travel. It is also a great opportunity to provide some education on the migration and why they come through here, which is part of our mission."

According to Lusk, this year's family friendly event will be the fifth year of its continuation, with the past four years being the "Breakfast with the Butterflies." Attendees will be able to participate in the butterfly release at their own pace while enjoying the beauty of nature. For this event, Lusk said the gardens have 1,000 Painted Lady butterflies prepared for release, which each attendee will receive at the door.

The Amarillo Botanical Gardens invites the community to experience "A Day with the Butterflies," an expansion of their annual breakfast event, scheduled to include the traditional breakfast, and butterfly releases as well as live music, food trucks, vendors, arts and crafts, educational demonstrations and much more this Saturday at the gardens.
The Amarillo Botanical Gardens invites the community to experience "A Day with the Butterflies," an expansion of their annual breakfast event, scheduled to include the traditional breakfast, and butterfly releases as well as live music, food trucks, vendors, arts and crafts, educational demonstrations and much more this Saturday at the gardens.
The Amarillo Botanical Gardens invites the community to experience "A Day with the Butterflies," an expansion of their annual breakfast event, scheduled to include the traditional breakfast, and butterfly releases as well as live music, food trucks, vendors, arts and crafts, educational demonstrations and more on Saturday.
The Amarillo Botanical Gardens invites the community to experience "A Day with the Butterflies," an expansion of their annual breakfast event, scheduled to include the traditional breakfast, and butterfly releases as well as live music, food trucks, vendors, arts and crafts, educational demonstrations and more on Saturday.

Proceeds from the event will go towards ABG. They use these funds to maintain the gardens and offer educational information about their plants and environmental impacts.

ABG has been serving the Amarillo community since 1968 by inspiring interaction with plants and the environment. It has 4.4 acres of seasonal outdoor themed plantings, such as butterfly, Japanese, and xeric gardens. It also has a tropical conservatory that houses exotic plants and birds from around the world.

"We are a 501c3 nonprofit. We don't receive any tax dollars, and this event really does help with that, so we are really appreciative of the generous people of Amarillo and their attendance and support that allows us to continue our mission," Lusk said.

"The neat thing about the gardens is no one is angry to be here. ... We are a place where seldom do we see someone who is unhappy to be here. It's a place where people come to find peace, tranquility and beauty and relaxation, and when everyone walks in, you see their eyes lift and light up And that is especially said on the day of the butterfly release. It truly is magical to see," Lusk added.

Admission to enjoy the breakfast and butterfly release for adults is $15 and $10 for children ages 10 and younger.

General admission can also be purchased at the door and includes a butterfly to be released, while supplies last.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the ABG office at (806) 352-6513, in person or online at https://amarillobotanicalgardens.org/ .

The Amarillo Botanical Gardens invites the community to experience "A Day with the Butterflies," an expansion of their annual breakfast event, scheduled to include the traditional breakfast, and butterfly releases as well as live music, food trucks, vendors, arts and crafts, educational demonstrations and much more this Saturday at the gardens.
The Amarillo Botanical Gardens invites the community to experience "A Day with the Butterflies," an expansion of their annual breakfast event, scheduled to include the traditional breakfast, and butterfly releases as well as live music, food trucks, vendors, arts and crafts, educational demonstrations and much more this Saturday at the gardens.
The Amarillo Botanical Gardens invites the community to experience "A Day with the Butterflies," an expansion of their annual breakfast event, scheduled to include the traditional breakfast, and butterfly releases as well as live music, food trucks, vendors, arts and crafts, educational demonstrations and much more this Saturday at the gardens.
The Amarillo Botanical Gardens invites the community to experience "A Day with the Butterflies," an expansion of their annual breakfast event, scheduled to include the traditional breakfast, and butterfly releases as well as live music, food trucks, vendors, arts and crafts, educational demonstrations and much more this Saturday at the gardens.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo Botanical Gardens highlights butterfly migration season