Butterfly gardens unleash the whimsy and imagination in all of us. A creature that was once a caterpillar cocooned itself to emerge a beautiful butterfly? That’s nothing short of magical. While we might be lucky to see a butterfly or two darting past in the garden, landing on a flower, or even taking a rest on our arm, one of the best ways to learn about these fascinating insects is by visiting a butterfly garden. There’s the well-known Magic Wings Butterfly House at Durham Museum of Life and Sciences, but there’s another lesser-known butterfly garden hiding along the Outer Banks.

Courtesy of Baldwin Video
Courtesy of Baldwin Video
While many of us know the Outer Banks for its iconic beaches, faraway-vibes, lighthouses and larger-than-life sand dunes; there's also a bit of education and magic hiding within this beach community. In Kill Devil Hills, the Outer Banks Arboretum and Teaching Garden exists as an outdoor education center for visitors of all ages. The 'outdoor classroom' provides horticulture education with a special focus on the coastal ecosystem.

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Courtesy of Baldwin Video
Many people don't even know this exists in the Outer Banks. It's here to make use of available land for activities like walking, exploring and learning. Trails weaving in and out of the Arboretum are maintained by a group of dedicated gardeners and volunteers. One special aspect of the arboretum is the butterfly garden. August is one of the best times of year to view the vibrant butterflies as they've now reached their adult stage.

Choose a sunny day as the sun reflects and illuminates the intricate colors and patterns found on butterfly wings. The arboretum is filled with winding trails that lead you through the live oaks. Birds perch on the tree branches and the space has become popular for not only butterfly or nature enthusiasts but bird watchers as well. At the butterfly garden you'll also find a "totem" of Outer Banks animals carved in stone. One unique aspect of the butterfly garden is that it educates gardeners on how to build a butterfly garden in their own backyard. With a combination of native and non-native species, an array of butterflies fills the landscape.
Courtesy of Baldwin Video
Even if you're not in the market for planting a butterfly garden, you can enjoy the vibrant fauna and flora. The Arboretum and butterfly garden is open year-round, rain or shine, and free to the public. You'll find it near the Baum Senior Center and the Dare County Public Library. Some locals don't even know about this hidden, enchanting garden where butterflies dart past and land on your fingertips, birds chirp sweetly, and nature is allowed to fully unfold in front of your eyes.

To take a peek inside this magical garden and learn tips on creating your own, watch this stunning video by Baldwin Video below.

How magical is that? It’s always exciting to discover new places and spaces to explore along the Outer Banks and North Carolina in general. Have you visited here before?

For more information, read about the Arboretum here.

For another magical experience along the North Carolina coast, check out this kite festival.

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