My favorite Lukas Nursery also has an enclosed butterfly garden with tons of free-flight butterflies. They raise the caterpillars and release them into the garden. Butterflies will land on you (which isn’t too freaky, if you’re expecting it!). They don’t mind a bit if you get close to photograph them. So I go over there sometimes to take pictures.
Caterpillars
![Pipevine Swallowtail Pipevine Swallowtail](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/lukas/lukas_pipevine_caterpillar_small.jpg?resize=500%2C0)
Pipevine Swallowtail
![Spicebush Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/lukas/lukas_spicebush_caterpillar_small.jpg?resize=500%2C0)
Spicebush Swallowtail
Butterflies
![Pipevine Swallowtail (Closeup of Wing) Pipevine Swallowtail (Closeup of Wing)](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/lukas/lukas_pipevine_small.jpg?resize=500%2C0)
Pipevine Swallowtail (Closeup of Wing)
![Palamedes Swallowtail Palamedes Swallowtail](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/lukas/lukas_palamedes_small.jpg?resize=500%2C0)
Palamedes Swallowtail
![Julia Julia](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/lukas/lukas_julia2_small.jpg?resize=500%2C0)
Julia
![Spicebush Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/lukas/lukas_spicebush_small.jpg?resize=500%2C0)
Spicebush Swallowtail
![Zebra Longwing Zebra Longwing](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/lukas/lukas_zebra_longwing_small.jpg?resize=500%2C0)
Zebra Longwing
![Cloudless Sulphur Cloudless Sulphur](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/lukas/lukas_cloudless_sulphur_small.jpg?resize=500%2C0)
Cloudless Sulphur
![Julia Julia](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/lukas/lukas_julia1_small.jpg?resize=500%2C0)
Julia
![Monarch Monarch](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/lukas/lukas_monarch_small.jpg?resize=500%2C0)
Monarch
![Atala Atala](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/lukas/lukas_atala_small.jpg?resize=500%2C0)
Atala
![White Peacock White Peacock](https://i0.wp.com/www.blog.catandturtle.net/wp-content/uploads/lukas/lukas_white_peacock_small.jpg?resize=500%2C0)
White Peacock
Want to learn more about nature photography at Lukas Butterfly Encounter?
Check out my Lukas Butterfly Encounter page with more information about the location, map, website, photography tips, etc. It is archived by date so you can see my images from previous visits. Maybe you'll be inspired for your own trip!
Planning a trip to Florida? Don't miss my Central Florida Bird Photography Locations reference guide!