Monarchs at LBJ State Park

Cathy Downs and Gracie Waggener are Hill Country Chapter Master Naturalists. They will present the Live Butterfly Pavilion program here at Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site.   The Pavilions include a Life Cycle Pavilion where live eggs, caterpillars and chrysalis are on display providing education on the life cycle. There is information available on the Monarch Watch and Monarch Larval Monitoring Program as well as information and samples of Native Texas host and nectar plants for use in the home or school Butterfly Gardens. There are children’s educational butterfly activities for them to keep busy while waiting in line to visit the tents.

The Live Adult Pavilion usually holds from 12 - 30 or more adult butterflies of all shapes and sizes depending on the time of year.  Monarchs are on hand when possible to bring the conservation message for these dwindling populations to the public. Children and adults are encouraged to interact with the butterflies, practice handling these delicate critters, learn to identify with a field guide and there is a release ceremony of the live adults at the end of the day.