The annual Open House at Butterflies Unlimited butterfly farm (a.k.a. Dale Clark’s home) will be this coming Saturday, October 15^th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.   Butterflies Unlimited butterfly farm has been supplying live butterfly pupae to exhibits around the country for 21 years.  You’ll be able to walk the 1 ½ acres of butterfly gardens; walk through the flight cage and observe native species of butterflies as they oviposit on host plants; see numerous species of caterpillars in the “caterpillar greenhouse” and look through a large collection of specimens of butterflies and moths from around the world.   The open house is timed to coincide with the monarch migration and it is not uncommon for hundreds of free flying monarchs to be in the yard “tanking up” on the abundant nectar plants.  Definitely an opportunity to get some great photographs, so bring your camera.

Monarchs won’t be the only thing flying in the gardens.  In the last few days more than 40 species have been seen at the farm.  Expected species like Queens, Common Buckeye, Cloudless Sulphur, all four resident swallowtails, Red Admirals and Great Purple Hairstreak are common.  And in the past few weeks some surprises have shown up as well, like the Laviana White Skipper, Statira Sulphur and Common Mestra.

We also have a plant raffle at the beginning of the event, so when you arrive be sure to go sign in and get your raffle ticket.  You need not be a member of Dallas County Lepidopterists’ Society to attend.  Feel free to bring along a friend who you think would be interested.  As always, this DCLS event is free and open to everyone.  Weather should not be an issue as the forecast is sunny and warm, but in case that should change be sure to check the DCLS website for a reschedule in the event of rain.  We are also on Facebook (Dallas County Lepidopterists’ Society) so feel free to like the page and check updates there as well.

Directions: From the downtown Dallas area, take I-35 south roughly 17 miles.  Take the Bear Creek Road exit (#412) and turn right (west).  Go two miles to Hampton Road.  Turn left on Hampton Road .  My place will be the first driveway on the left — but continue driving south past my driveway and pull into the driveway that leads into a mowed field in front of a huge aluminum sided building and park and walk over to my place.

The address is 1732 S. Hampton Road, Glenn Heights, TX  75154.

Hope to see you all on the 15^th!

Contact : daleclark@dallasbutterflies.com