News Details (Posted: August 15, 2006):

Oviedo Butterfly Festival 2006

Contact Information:

Lukas Nursery
407-365-6163

Full Description:

Sept. 22 / 23 / 24 Oviedo- Butterfly Capitol of Central Florida When the world's visitor come to the Orlando area, the sixth top tourist destination in the world, they expect something special. Because the area is home to international class theme parks, we too have become sophisticated consumers of the "quality experience" and expect and demand that same standard in our local getaways. Oviedo, a one-time quiet agricultural town with its roots in celery, cattle, watercress, sod and the like, has become a major innovator in the "new agriculture" in Florida. Butterfly farming is the name and butterfly gardening is the game. Best of all, charming Oviedo is at the center of it all. Butterfly farming, also called "caterpillar farming", is the newest form of agriculture and is an exciting way to increase wild butterfly populations through releases of live butterflies. This new form of farming is also creating many jobs in rural areas of the south and worldwide especially in the tropics. Butterfly conservatories are made possible because of these farms ability to supply chrysalides, which hatch into live butterflies for public science displays. This new form of farming is creating many jobs in rural areas of Florida and worldwide especially in the tropics. Because these caterpillars spend a week or two in chrysalides and cocoons, they can be shipped overnight all over the world with proper permits. Lukas Butterfly Encounter is the only large butterfly conservatory that also raises all of the species of caterpillars that they display and differs from 99% of the "butterfly houses" in the nation. The secret lies in the fact that Florida is one of only two continental U. S. states that lies partly in the tropics. As a result, our native butterflies are the most unique in the country, with 11 exotic species of Caribbean, Central and South American butterflies that also live in Florida. Most butterfly exhibits display hundreds of live imported butterflies. The U. S. D. A. requires a special permit that demands that the adult butterflies be contained and not allowed to lay eggs or raise caterpillars in the indoor gardens. Lukas Butterfly Encounter proudly displays the most exciting mix of native butterflies in the U. S., which requires no U. S. D. A. permit. This allows us to raise all of the species of caterpillars inside of our conservatory for your viewing pleasure. The encounter is located at Lukas Nursery, one of premier nurseries in Florida representing the fourth generation of family agriculture in the Oviedo area. This partnership offers the largest collection of "no-pesticide" butterfly garden plants in one location. In addition flowers called nectar plants to feed the adult butterflies, but also the most important host plants, which the caterpillars can grow on. Butterfly caterpillars are very different from moth caterpillars and are extremely "picky eaters". Our entire butterfly population is dependent upon about 50 or so which are the only plants with which they can raise their babies and increase their population. So the next time you’re wondering what to do for family fun, think of the charming city of Oviedo, with its agricultural heritage and our "new agriculture", butterfly farming. Visit one of Oviedo’s locally owned family restaurants, right in your own backyard. Investigate the Cross Seminole Trail, Big Oaks Ranch, Canoeing, Airboat Tours There is more to Oviedo then just the "Chickens". Lukas Nursery Website