The Butterfly Garden In Maine That’s The Perfect Family Destination

Do you know that there are a lot of living creatures to appreciate here in Maine, but there's one that only gets the spotlight for a short part of the year? In the spring and summertime, butterflies make their way to Maine gardens -- and it's a beautiful sight to see. While there are estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000 different species of butterflies, most people only get to see a fraction of that amount. While that's certainly unfortunate, we're just happy for the ones we can see. And one of the best places to enjoy the butterflies is Charlotte Rhoades Park & Butterfly Garden. If we've piqued your interest, read on to learn more about these beautiful butterfly gardens in Maine.

To spot some truly beautiful butterflies, make your way to Downeast Maine where you’ll find Charlotte Rhoades Park and Butterfly Garden in Southwest Harbor.

These botanical gardens in Maine made their debut in 1998, but their history and story go back much longer.

These now butterfly gardens in Maine were named for Southwest Harbor local Charlotte Rhoades, who owned the land in the 1950s. In 1978, the land was given over to the town for the creation of a children's park.

Over time, the park became a beloved fixture of the community, and in 1998, the butterfly garden officially opened.

Nowadays, these best gardens in Maine work to educate visitors on conservation, while also providing hands-on instruction for various gardening activities. Through their conservation efforts, the garden has been curated in a way that specifically caters to butterflies, attracting them from all over!

Volunteers work here even when the park is closed to ensure that every carefully placed plant and flower is growing strong. This is what draws the butterflies.

In addition to offering a butterfly habitat, the garden is a full celebration of all things butterfly! The beds of each garden are designed to look like butterfly wings, and each plant is considered a “butterfly host.”

Visitors are encouraged to wander through the gardens, following the carefully constructed paths. This is the best way to see each butterfly and which plant it's attracted to. Hence, it's understandable why this is the top place to go if you're in the area and wonder, "Where are the closest butterfly gardens near me?"

The Charlotte Rhoads Part and Butterfly Garden is a wonderful way to appreciate the outdoor landscape of Downeast Maine, but it’s also a great place for education. Throughout the year, these botanical gardens in Maine offer classes and instructional opportunities for those wishing to learn more about horticulture.

Visiting is also an interactive experience -- especially if you come on one particular day in the summer. In the past, the garden has hosted an annual butterfly release and this year should be no different. Ticket prices allow for the release of one butterfly and the proceeds go towards keeping the park thriving.

If you can’t attend the annual butterfly release event, you are welcome to visit any other day. Each plant and flower entice butterflies to come visit, and there’s truly nothing else like it!

Charlotte Rhoades Park & Butterfly Garden is open seasonally from mid-May to mid-October, sunrise to sunset. You can learn more about the history of these butterfly gardens in Maine, hours, and upcoming events on the Charlotte Rhoades Park & Butterfly Garden website.

Not far from this beauty is another spectacular nature spot to enjoy. Check out our coverage of Asticou Azalea Garden to learn why we think they're also one of the best gardens in Maine. And, if you'd like to spend more time outdoors checking out butterflies and other wildlife, we suggest taking advantage of this AllTrails offer.