Hallberg Butterfly Gardens

05/21/2026

🌿 Volunteers Needed for Open Gardens Day 🌿

Hallberg Butterfly Gardens’ 27th Annual Open Gardens Day is coming up on June 28th from 10 am–4 pm, and we are currently looking for volunteers to help make this special community event possible. If you enjoy native plants, butterflies, environmental education, or simply being part of a beautiful community event, we would love you
Please help spread the word 🦋

Volunteer application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeR6L81r5CU_B7d7bwW445UqC7QMhM_UyUNLgQn-GO28y1CZw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=110734767189314984951

Volunteer opportunities include:
🦋 Educational garden stations
🌱 Native plant sale support
🚗 Parking & guest welcome
📚 Book sales & refreshments
🎨 Kid’s activities
…and more

Volunteer shifts:
• AM Shift: 9:30 am–1:00 pm
• PM Shift: 12:30 pm–4:30 pm

Open Gardens Day is our largest fundraiser of the year and helps support ongoing habitat restoration, pollinator education, and stewardship work at Hallberg Butterfly Gardens.

04/22/2026

🌿 Native Plant Sale + Garden Visit This Weekend 🦋

Join us this weekend at Hallberg Butterfly Gardens for our spring native plant sale and fundraiser!

We’ll have a selection of California native plants that support butterflies and pollinators—many of the same species we grow and use throughout the garden.

While you’re here, you’re invited to walk the garden, see what these plants look like when established, and experience the habitat they help create.

It’s also a great time of year to catch the pipevine swallowtails—we’re seeing both butterflies and caterpillars out in the garden right now.

🌱 Bring home plants that support real habitat
🦋 See butterflies in action
💚 Support a local nonprofit

More info + appointments:
https://hallbergbutterflygardens.org/our-nursery

04/16/2026

On this one leaf you can spot multiple instars of the pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor hirsuta), from tiny fresh hatchlings to bold, well-armored late-stage caterpillars. Same species, different vibes.

Each molt brings a new look (and a bigger appetite), all fueled by their host plant—pipevine. Those bright orange spots? A warning: “I’m not tasty.” These caterpillars borrow chemical defenses from their host plant, making them unappealing to predators.
This is exactly the kind of up-close, real-time life cycle magic happening in the garden right now, and it’s just getting started.

🌿 We’re officially open for tour season!
Come see who’s crawling, flying, and emerging.
More info + tour details: hallbergbutterflygardens.org

04/16/2026

🌿 Spring Plant Sale & Fundraiser 🦋

Hallberg Butterfly Garden’s annual spring plant sale is happening next weekend, April 25th & 26th, from 9 AM–4 PM—by appointment only due to parking limitations.

Reserve your spot and view the full plant list here:
https://hallbergbutterflygardens.org/our

We specialize in California native plants that support local pollinators—especially butterflies. This year’s selection includes favorites like soap plant, western azalea, fremontia, blue elderberry, tiger lilies, western hazelnut, narrow-leaf milkweed, silver lupine, nettleleaf giant hyssop, bleeding hearts, and more.

Plant lists organized by bloom time and butterfly/moth host plants will be available at the sale, and our knowledgeable staff will be on hand to help with your garden questions.

🌼 After your appointment, enjoy a self-guided tour of the garden—April is one of the best times to see pipevine swallowtail butterflies and caterpillars in action.

Come support the garden, shop thoughtfully grown plants, and bring more life into your landscape.

03/15/2026

03/15/2026

Butterflies everywhere! The video doesn’t capture how they are all around! This is an incredible emergence of the pipevine swallowtail. We’re also seeing tiger swallowtails, echo azure, mourning cloak and painted ladies!

10/08/2025

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/science-friday/id73329284?i=1000730594178

Podcast Episode · Science Friday · 10/07/2025 · 18m

09/22/2025

Hallberg Butterfly Gardens is excited to host a pop-up movie night in the Gravenstein Apple Orchard! We will be showing Ian Nelson’s latest film, Western Monarch Butterflies: Protecting Our Pollinators. This will be a picnic-style event; bring your blanket or camping chairs, along with snacks. We’ll provide the popcorn!

Saturday, the 28th, from 7:30 to 9 pm, suggested donation $5-10 per person. Donations are accepted on our website and in person. Don’t forget your blanket or chairs! Registration is NOT required.

Accessibility: Pressed gravel along the orchard will create a flat, stable surface for wheelchair access. Minor bumps and uneven spots should be noted.

Feel free to contact us via email with any questions: [email protected]

About the Film:

The significant decline of the western monarch butterfly population is a concerning indicator of the overall health of many pollinator species in the western United States. Conservationists and dedicated community members are making considerable efforts to restore these vital species by improving natural habitats and establishing pollinator-friendly gardens.

Ian Anthony Nelson is a filmmaker from Santa Rosa, California. A lifelong passion for observing and learning about wildlife in their natural habitats has shaped his work. Ian has collaborated with organizations such as Pepperwood Foundation, American Bird Conservancy, Kaua’i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project, Pacific Rim Conservation, Bay Nature, Golden Gate Audubon Society, and others on various films. His partnerships with environmental and wildlife organizations have helped raise global awareness of the diverse ecosystems and species on Earth and highlight efforts to protect and preserve the environment. www.iananelson.com