Kate Gorrie Butterfly House

The Kate Gorrie Butterfly House originally opened in 2000 to honor the memory of Kate Gorrie, daughter of Meg and Tom Gorrie of Pennington, NJ. The Gorries are long-time board members and benefactors of The Watershed Institute, and chose to honor Kate’s life and her love for the beauty of nature by helping build a butterfly house.

The outdoor structure is open seasonally (mid-June to early October), free to the public from dawn to dusk. You are welcome to visit the butterfly house any day of the week.

Native plants offer a source of nectar for butterflies and other pollinators.  Plant bergamot, golden alexander, and various milkweed species in your garden to ensure that pollinators always have good sources of food throughout the season.

HOST PLANTS LIST

Are you looking for a unique way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, graduation or another momentous occasion? Book a private tour of the Kate Gorrie Butterfly House with one of our knowledgeable Teacher-Naturalists. The Kate Gorrie Butterfly House and Watershed Center are handicap-accessible. Call 609-737-3735 or email [email protected] for information, pricing, and availability.

The Butterfly House showcases native butterflies and the native plants that support them. The gardens inside simulate typical habitats of central New Jersey – field, wetland, wet meadow, field and forest. The wildflowers and shrubs inside provide nectar and shelter for butterflies and food for caterpillars.

We also work with Monarch Watch, a national organization for Monarch research and education. We raise Monarchs in our Butterfly House, then tag and release the fall generation to help gather migration data.