Butterfly Releases

There's something truly special about holding a delicate butterfly in your hands and watching it flutter away into a garden filled with blooms. The Purdy Butterfly House at Huntsville Botanical Garden offers families this gentle, memorable experience through their Butterfly Releases program. After a brief educational presentation about butterfly habitats and life cycles, participants help restore the indoor butterfly population by carefully releasing live butterflies. It's a hands-on nature lesson that captivates kids ages 3-15 while giving everyone a chance to connect with these beautiful creatures up close. The program takes place on select Saturdays from May through September, with two 30-minute sessions available each date — one at 10:00 a.m. and another at 11:00 a.m. on August 8th. Registration is required since space is limited. Pricing varies by membership status: Garden members pay $8 per person, while non-members pay $27 for adults and $20 for children ages 3-15. Children 2 and under receive free garden admission and only need a ticket if they'll be participating in the actual butterfly release. Bring your camera or smartphone — these are truly photo-worthy moments you'll want to capture. The Purdy Butterfly House provides a lush, tropical setting that makes for stunning backdrops whether you're snapping pictures of your child's delighted face or the butterfly taking its first flight. Plan to arrive a few minutes early to check in, and consider exploring the rest of the Botanical Garden's 112 acres afterward to make a full morning of your visit.