Butterflies Flutter into New Garden at Nemours Hospital

Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del., recently brightened the day for their patients with a new, airy butterfly garden. More than 200 butterflies spread their wings and flew into their new home, designed and built by BrightView.

The effect was felt throughout the hospital with patients, families, and guests viewing the event in their rooms and in the now brightened courtyard. The hospital’s goal is for the garden to be a place of joy and healing for pediatric patients.

The garden came to fruition thanks to a $2,500 grant from Sokoloff Grant for Compassion & Kindness, which was awarded to 17-year-old Kendra Kaericher. Kaericher was nominated by her peers and teachers at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire to create a project that gives back to the world. While working her summer at inpatient services at Nemours, Kaericher wanted to brighten the day for the patients and families and knew a butterfly garden would do just that. She used the grant to nurture more than 200 caterpillars into butterflies in her living room and also had input into the garden’s design.

The butterfly garden features perennial plants, a butterfly bush, and various other plants that attract monarch butterflies.