Breedlove Nursery is considered an essential business, and Breedlove explained it stayed open through the pandemic. "People would come through just to be outside and get out of the house," she said. She said she hoped the butterfly festival would give people something fun to look forward to this year.

Breedlove Nursery & Landscape has been open through the state shutdown, as it is considered an essential business.

Co-owner Laurie Breedlove said she noticed people would come by the store to simply look around and get out of the house.

On Saturday, the nursery hosted a butterfly festival as a way to give the community something unique to do in the sunshine, as well as a way to inspire hope, she said.

“The butterfly is a symbol of hope,” said Breedlove. “People have felt hopeless through this. Even before the quarantine was off, people would come out and they would get out of the car and wander and you could see them relax and just enjoy. It’s amazing.”

In the midst of the rich, plant-filled scenery at the nursery sat the main attraction of the event: the butterfly tent.

Tony Delia, owner of the tent and the monarch butterflies that fluttered within it has featured his monarchs on several occasions at the nursery as well as around Texas and other parts of the country.

When onlookers entered the tent, they were welcomed to hold out green straws garnished with juicy pink watermelon, which the butterflies landed on and indulged in.

“They like the sugar water in the watermelon,” said Delia.

Breedlove said she didn’t expect the people attending to buy anything and just wanted to give them a way to enjoy getting out of the house.

“People love flowers and butterflies,” she said.