Surrounded By Fluttering Butterflies at Peck Farm in Geneva, Illinois

 

Fluttering Butterflies, Lake Views, Vibrant Gardens, Prairie Paths and More at Peck Farm in Geneva, Illinois

Time stands still when magical butterflies flutter all around you! Peck Farm in Geneva, Illinois itself is quite a local treasure but even more so in the warmer months when the Butterfly House greets visitors to enter the world of butterflies!

Open mid-May through mid-September, the Butterfly House allows curious nature lovers to see the whole life cycle of magical butterflies. Immediately when we entered, delight ignited as brilliant butterflies of all shapes and colors fluttered around us. We felt so transported away as vibrant blue, yellow, orange, and green butterflies bounced all around us

A brilliant butterfly nibbling on nectar.

Tropical and local butterflies danced around us and flitted on and off of flowers. Cards provided within the haven helped identify our little friends. We also observed butterflies nibbling at food stations. They seem to love oranges, bananas and nectar! We also were able to see butterflies in various stages of emerging from a chrysalis from an observatory window!

A butterfly taking a moment to rest.

Care must be taken when visiting the Butterfly House. I recommend not bringing bags because you cannot bring them in the haven -- you don't want a hitchhiker on the way out. No food, drink, strollers, purses or bags are permitted inside. Be prepared to go slow and enjoy your time. As you stroll through, you will not be sure to not step on one of our friends. If you pause for a bit, one may even land on you!

A butterfly visitor on my hat!

Truly, visiting the haven is such an experience full of wonder. We ended up circulating twice because we were so captivated by butterflies of all shapes, sizes and colors.

**Visiting the Butterfly House is by donation.

Wandering the Trails of Peck Farm

Elegant Peck House standing regally on the farm

While visiting the Butterfly House, you should not miss wandering Peck Farm. We have always l oved this preserve, its historic buildings, children's play area, lake and trails. The 1869 elegant mansion stands regally on the property. Although we did not enter on this visit, there are exhibits inside.

Silo rising above the prairie at Peck Farm.

Footsteps away is Hawks Hollow -- a large playground threaded into nature. I miss my daughter being of the age to explore this incredible nature learning experience! Nearby is also a replica of the original silo which has a mural inside depicting the history of the area. Atop, you will admire a fantastic view!

A Magnificent Lake View

Serenity at the lake at Peck Farm.

We often see wildlife in and around the lake, so no trip is complete without a walk down to the edge. Sometimes, we head out on more trails. On the visit, we saw a rabbit and egret.

Engaging sensory garden beckoning exploration!

Before leaving, we strolled through the sensory garden. Throughout, the preserve displays prompts to encourage visitors to explore using different senses. So lovely!

Peck Farm is one of our favorite local adventures all year round. While the Butterfly House is only open for a couple more weeks this season, the preserve's prairie trails, lake views, vibrant flowers, large children's play area and more make Peck Farm a fantastic space for all to enjoy!