Southeastern Minnesota's Amazing Birds & Butterflies

The Driftless region is host to many species of butterflies and birds that migrate along routes from Mexico to Canada each year. The Root River Valley is a wonderful green space where you will find these colorful creatures flourishing throughout bluff areas, in fields, and along the river.

If you are wondering, here are just a few butterfly and bird species you may spot throughout this Driftless Region.

Butterflies

American Coppers	Empress Moths	Giant Swallowtails
Great Spangled Fritillary	Imperial Moths	Monarchs
Orange Sulfurs

Great Spangled Fritillary

Empress Moth

Giant Swallowtail

Great Spangled Frillitary

Imperial Moth

Monarch

Orange Sulfur

Giant Swallowtail

Great Spangled Frillitary

Birds

Bluebird	Blue Heron	Cedar Waxwing
Goldfinch	House Finch	Indigo Bunting
King Fisher	Oriole	Pileated  Woodpecker
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Sandhill Crane

Preserving habitat and healthy ecological systems is essential to the future of all creatures, everywhere, including butterfies and birds. Making time to appreciate the beauty of birds and butterflies is a rewarding activity, one that increases awareness in a way that motivates us to work toward ensuring all of these amazing species will be around for generations to come. The Driftless region is host to a great number of friends of its butterfly and bird population, where a bounty of colorful gardens attract butterflies and birds in wide varieties. Green Gables Inn & Gardens on the riverside in Lanesboro is no exception. Numerous floral gardens of butterfly-friendly plants, bee-friendly pollinators, and bird-friendly attractions can be found throughout the property where all kind of birds and butterflies visit regularly.

Green Gables Inn is conveniently located along the Bluff Country Scenic Highway in Lanesboro, Minnesota. This Scenic Byway bisects much of the western region of the Driftless area within Minnesota. There is a tremendous amount of history to be found in the area with much to discover about native cultures and the glacial geography of the area. Numerous state parks, scenic overlooks, educational nature centers, nature preserves, and roadside parks make it a great destination for a two or three day adventure. Bring your binoculars, bird & butterfly books, maps, and apps along so you can document all of your birding and butterfly spotting adventures.