P.G. Butterfly House

Pacific Grove, California

Picturesque coastal Pacific Grove calls itself "Butterfly Town U.S.A." because swarms of monarch butterflies migrate here to overwinter. They dangle like dead leaves from local trees in the late fall and winter, rousing each day to search for nectar. The city funds a Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary optimized for their unique seasonal residents.

But that's only part of the thematic impetus behind the "P.G. Butterfly House," a private residence decorated with a colorful folk art riot of butterflies. The Butterfly House is the creative labor of J Jackson, for his wife Sonja.

The couple married in 1976 and bought the coastal cottage in 1977. About 20 years ago, Sonja's sight was becoming impaired due to an eye disease. But she could still see bright colored objects, so J began bringing her artwork butterflies. In the 1990s he started to attach butterfly sculptures and art to the front of the house (a neighborhood passerby told us that the intent was to help Sonja easily spot her home if she was out for a walk).

The Butterfly House underwent constant enhancements by school counselor J "The Butterfly Man." Repeating patterns of scrap art, mirrors, and paint intermix handcrafted butterflies (and an occasional bunny rabbit). It has a Peter Max vibe, a nod to hippiedom, yet with nice plantings and an attention to detail befitting grown up Love Children.

The Butterflies of Hope Memorial Wall runs along one side of the house, covered with butterflies representing charitable donations to the Blind & Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County (where Sonja worked as a secretary).

When we visited, a neighbor lamented to us about the frequency of tour buses blocking the tiny street, but admitted it was a very popular Pacific Grove sight.