“At Salt Creek Butterfly Farm we believe life is fuller and richer when we can personally connect with nature. We provide opportunities for children and adults to slow down, observe, and appreciate the beauty, strength, and fragility of native Illinois butterflies.”
Learn how to find butterfly eggs, raise caterpillars, release butterflies, and create and protect habitats that nurture these gentle creatures.
Lori Stralow Harris opened Salt Creek Butterfly Farm in 2010 to provide opportunities for her community to develop deep connections to the myriad of life in our own backyards.
Her backyard nature programs have helped countless people slow down, explore, and fall in love with native Illinois butterflies, Giant Silk Moths, composting worms, honey bees and living willow structures.
Lori has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Illinois, and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts Education from Columbia College. In her work life she was an artist-in-residence, then Manager of Education at Urban Gateways Center for Education. She later worked with Project Exploration as Manager of Traveling Paleontology Exhibits. Currently she is an assistant teacher for the Montessori School of Western Springs in the butterfly off-season.
In her spare time, Lori is still active with encaustic painting (painting in wax) and pastel. Her children’s book, ”Butterfly Birthday” is in its second printing.
Lori is also a member and has been a conference speaker for these organizations:
and has published educational articles and developed programs or presentations for:
and many many regional libraries, garden clubs, community art or conservation groups, and school groups.
