TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
Inside the Butterfly Cottage at the Little Country Greenhouse in New Boston, Texas.
Bruce and two of his assistants, give groups of ten a ten-minute orientation of the dos and don’ts while in the butterfly house. They also show pictures and explain which butterflies the tour participants will see. The Pardue’s butterfly house provides one of only two free tours to see and learn about butterflies across the United States. The other free butterfly house is in Minnesota. Bruce and Patria want to provide people with an educational and inspiring experience. “When we actually go in with you, we are pointing [butterflies] out, and we will take you and show you caterpillars and eggs, whatever is going on in there at the time of your tour,” said Bruce. The Little Country Greenhouse does tours for school groups in the Texarkana area, after-school programs, garden clubs, and master gardeners. They expect over 4,000 visitors to the butterfly house during this year’s season. Bruce wants everyone who goes through the tour to learn something new and have an interactive experience. “I want them to experience what I didn’t get to,” he said. “I want to be able to put a butterfly on their finger. I want them to see [butterflies] up close and personal.” While the butterfly house is a big attraction at The Little Country Greenhouse and does require a scheduled appointment, this oasis offers many other opportunities for the individual or family to enjoy. This year-round greenhouse also offers parakeets, exotic chickens, and ducks for visiting patrons to enjoy. Visitors can see nine baby parakeets and nests where 11 parakeet eggs are waiting to hatch. They can also visit with Frizzy, the chicken. She is a new breed, a frizzle chicken, with feathers like fur. Customers can come to enjoy these free experiences, shop for farm-fresh
produce, eat some Blue Bell ice cream, and learn how to start their own butterfly gardens. “We want folks to learn. That’s what it is all about—teaching and learning,” said Bruce. “The more successful our customers become, the happier they become.”
The Little Country Greenhouse is located at 1442 Daniels Chapel Road in New Boston, Texas. The greenhouse is open Monday-Saturday from 8 am-6 pm and on Sundays from 9 am-4 pm. Appointments for the butterfly house tours and other information can be obtained by calling (903) 628-2991.
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COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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