Idlewild Butterfly Farm

Idlewild Butterfly Farm Butterflies for Exhibit and Education, Beneficial Insects for Yard & Garden, Butterfly Garden Plants,
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Idlewild Butterfly Farm is based out of Louisville, Kentucky, and was born of a lifelong passion for insects and the natural world. We focus on sustainable and ecologically-friendly practices such as butterfly garden cultivation and the use of beneficial insects for pest control. With the expertise of our staff of entomologists, we breed and rear our own stocks of Kentucky native butterflies. Thes

e butterflies are available to the consumer for releases at weddings, memorials, and other events, or for home and classroom projects. We are a USDA inspected and licensed facility, which allows us to house a collection of live exotic insects from around the globe. Visitors are welcome to view these fascinating creatures but are also encouraged to handle the insects. A tour of the Idlewild Butterfly Farm insectarium is a hands-on experience and a source of wonder for children and adults alike. We are also committed to promoting sustainable and ecologically-friendly agricultural practices. The plants we sell are grown with the use of beneficial insects, never touched by insecticides, which is crucial for their inclusion in a butterfly garden. We are also experienced in pest identification and working with the consumer to address their pest problems with beneficial insects and other biological control agents. Finally, our storefront in a historic building near Old Louisville is host to specially selected and curated gifts, art, and accessories. The bulk of our inventory is made in America, and we feature wares by local artists and craftspeople - everything from jewelry, to blown glass, to soaps and candles, to handmade insect display boxes.

A few baskets remain online to purchase for Mother’s Day, get your order in. SO MANY Zinnias, Gomphrena, Strawflowers, M...
05/06/2026

A few baskets remain online to purchase for Mother’s Day, get your order in.

SO MANY Zinnias, Gomphrena, Strawflowers, Mexican Sunflowers and more! These cutting varieties are a great addition to your pollinator/butterfly garden.
Milkweeds and other natives for butterflies are also in stock.

$2 veggie plants! 🍅 🌶️ 🫑

Red admiral pupa kits are also available.

Lacewings and Beneficial nematodes will also be in stock for Saturday.

04/24/2026

Many butterfly visitors to our plants today, especially Pipevine Swallowtails!

Zinnias, compact Genovese Basil, Corn Poppy, Cosmos, Butterflyweed, MI Lily, Indian Pink, and so much more!

04/22/2026

Everyday is Earth 🌎 Day.

One of our Cercropid moths called a wild male to her early this morning. ❤️

04/17/2026

Cercropid moths! These are all males.

Plant restock this week includes Eastern Sweetshrub, PawPaw (Zebra Swallowtails have found them), Poke Milkweed, Carolin...
04/16/2026

Plant restock this week includes Eastern Sweetshrub, PawPaw (Zebra Swallowtails have found them), Poke Milkweed, Carolina Lupine, and Narrowleaf Mountain Mint. Grown with love and good bugs.

Hey y’all,We’ve had a tremendous response to our FREE workshop this Saturday with Margaret Shea! We are offering a secon...
03/10/2026

Hey y’all,

We’ve had a tremendous response to our FREE workshop this Saturday with Margaret Shea! We are offering a second workshop at 11:30, please sign up on our website. We do ask that you please limit 2 spots per registrant.

Link in bio.

While this is not a great photo, we have been releasing Mourning Cloaks for years and FINALLY had our first wild visitor...
03/01/2026

While this is not a great photo, we have been releasing Mourning Cloaks for years and FINALLY had our first wild visitor! This beauty fluttered into our space in search of a snack, which we gladly provided. We are so thankful we got to see her!

Mourning Cloaks overwinter as adults and are usually some of the first we see in early Spring. Their host plants include willow, birch, and cottonwood trees.

Our diapause is coming to a close…time to get ready for Spring 🪴!Kentucky’s own Margaret Shea is kicking off our first w...
02/27/2026

Our diapause is coming to a close…time to get ready for Spring 🪴!
Kentucky’s own Margaret Shea is kicking off our first workshop of the season. Just because you have a small space doesn’t mean you can’t provide habitat for pollinators and butterflies, and Margaret is going to teach you how! This is a FREE workshop with the option of pre-ordering plants. Margaret is a trailblazer in native plants and habitat restoration, don’t miss this!

Idlewild is getting a new website, facility upgrade, and more. Stay tuned for info...

Oldie but a goodie, Happy Valentine’s Day!
02/14/2026

Oldie but a goodie, Happy Valentine’s Day!

We have Mecynorrhina torquata (giant flower beetle) pupae! These beetle grubs arrived to us last year and just pupated. ...
02/01/2026

We have Mecynorrhina torquata (giant flower beetle) pupae! These beetle grubs arrived to us last year and just pupated. Looking forward to see them as adults.

Address

1100 Logan Street
Louisville, KY
40204

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