(Mission, TX) – The National Butterfly Center is growing, with three construction projects this summer! We will remain open throughout this process, and encourage the public to visit often while we build the Texas Butterfly Gardens, the Texas Savannah Trails & Ayenia Refugium (TEXSTAR), and the Butterfly Conservatory & Outdoor Classroom. Altogether, these three projects represent almost $500,000 in added features that will benefit native plants, wildlife and all of our guests.

“Expanding the gardens at the National Butterfly Center fulfills our mission in multiple ways,” explains Marianna Trevino Wright, Executive Director. “I laughingly tell people the more we plant the longer they stay; but the truth is the more we plant, the more butterflies, caterpillars and birds we have and the greater our value proposition is for visitors. After all, the gardens are intended to be beautiful and educational.”

More than ten years ago, the “old” research gardens were planted at what was called the NABA International Butterfly Park. At that time, native plants that produce nectar for butterflies or make good food for caterpillars were sought out, collected and propagated for this colorful, wonderful test of If you build it, they will come. And come, they did; millions upon millions of them—and more than 200 species! As a result, the National Butterfly Center was recently named one of the ‘Top Gardens in Texas’ by the San Antonio Express-News.

In 2014, the National Butterfly Center is still seeking, collecting and propagating native plants for use on the property and for introduction to the commercial horticultural trade. With more than 100 species of native plants on the property, the new gardens and greenhouse facility will substantially increase breeding and feeding habitat for wildlife, and improve engagement opportunities for visitors.

Excavation of the Texas Butterfly Gardens is slated to begin next week. Conceived and designed to showcase native plant species in botanical garden fashion, the sunken butterfly wing gardens, the graduated (tiered) gardens and the formal demonstration beds will be configured by plant and butterfly species-association, to help people comprehend the dynamic relationship between hosts and caterpillars.

In stark contrast to the Texas Butterfly Gardens, TEXSTAR will replicate the single most endangered habitat in Texas: the savannah grassland. This joint venture between the National Butterfly Center and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is the second project these two organization have undertaken as the Center vigorously acts to restore what was once a commercial onion field.

“Re-vegetating old agricultural land such as ours with endangered Tamaulipan Kidneypetal or Texas Ayenia (Ayenia limitaris), and assorted native butterfly plants, is our best chance at creating a nearly-continuous conservation corridor and shoring up shrinking habitat for butterflies and other South Texas wildlife,” states Wright. “This sanctuary for one endangered species is a tangible reminder of the many plants and animals that may disappear from our landscape if action is not taken to preserve them; not to mention the loss of clean water, clean air and sustainable food sources, which are also tied to native habitats.”

Growing awareness of the National Butterfly Center is not only increasing the nonprofit organization’s need for facilities, but expanding opportunities for them to impact the community in a variety of ways. One such opportunity involves supporting the efforts of teachers and exceeding their expectations outside the classroom with Project Wild^{TM –}certified environmental education.

“As the result of increasing interest in what we do, we’ve outgrown our Visitor’s Pavilion in three short years,” states Wright. “Although this space remains relevant for receiving guests, hosting special events and hanging exhibits, it was never intended to hold a hundred, hyperactive third graders on a field trip. For this reason, our next structure will be the Butterfly Conservatory & Outdoor Classroom.”

Thanks to a generous grant to support “green” initiatives from the H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust, the National Butterfly Center is now building a greenhouse structure that will serve as an extension of the Nursery and double as classroom space for civic clubs and student groups interested in learning with nature.

“The Butterfly Conservatory & Outdoor Classroom is designed to lure the public at-large into the wilderness to receive conservation education in a contrived setting,” asserts Wright. “Here, people cannot help but learn about ‘Growing Connections’ in spite of themselves. It’s our goal to provide everyone who visits this place the experience of a lifetime—one that will give them the tools they need to become practical stewards of our natural treasures.”

All three projects will begin next week and go through the summer, without disrupting Critter Camp or regular operations. The Texas Butterfly Gardens and Butterfly Conservatory & Outdoor Classroom are expected to be completed by the end of September, with TEXSTAR development lasting two-three years.

To learn more about these projects and the mission of the National Butterfly Center, please visit the MEDIA tab at www.nationalbutterflycenter.org to view the IN FOCUS video or read about Progress at the National Butterfly Center, IN THE NEWS. Donations or planned gifts to support these projects and the work of the Center are welcome and may be made online or by calling 956.583.5400.

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The National Butterfly Center is committed to ‘Growing Connections’ between people, plants, and the winged wonders that pollinate and propagate all that grows around us. We do this through educational and environmental initiatives that cultivate meaningful understanding of the processes that create sustainable ecosystems. The Center is open to the public, for visitors and members, seven days/week.

To learn more about the National Butterfly Center, and how you can join us, visit www.nationalbutterflycenter.org, or call 956.583.5400. Your annual membership or charitable gift impacts the beauty of our community and helps preserve the biologically diverse, natural treasures of deep South Texas.