It was a cool morning, and I happily stepped inside the warm, humid butterfly house off Highway H in the Dells. A yellow swallowtail flew toward me while other butterflies flitted about as a worker set out fresh banana and watermelon slices.

I had an unusual question for Diane Wright, co-owner of Brilliant Butterflies in Wisconsin Dells, but first I wanted to learn why she and her husband, Kevin, had devoted so much of their lives to butterflies.

An ecologist, Diane has always loved the outdoors and wants others to value it, too.

"That's why hands-on experiences matter," she said. "It's hard to care about something you've never connected with."

Brilliant Butterflies gives visitors that connection. Guests receive a sugar stick and often smile when a butterfly lands on it. Diane hopes those moments inspire appreciation for these remarkable creatures and the habitats they depend on.

After all, we tend to protect what we love.

Diane and Kevin operate a butterfly farm in Montello and have supplied butterflies to exhibits around the country since 2001. For years, Diane dreamed of opening a butterfly exhibit of her own. Now that dream has become a reality.

My slightly embarrassing question was temporarily forgotten as I soaked in the atmosphere. The air carried the scent of pollinator plants while monarchs, painted ladies, and other butterflies drifted among the flowers.

Then Diane invited me through the curtain of overlapping plastic strips into an adjoining room.

Host plants held butterfly eggs, newly hatched caterpillars, and larger caterpillars. Some hung in the familiar "J" shape, which they do right before forming a chrysalis. I lingered over the eggs. The female comma butterfly lays hers in a column, stacking five or more atop one another. I had never seen anything quite like it.

Another display showcased chrysalids in various stages of development. Monarch chrysalids, with their lime-green color and gold beading, are especially beautiful. Some had darkened, meaning butterflies would emerge soon.

One of my favorite insects is the luna moth. Its cocoon may quiver when disturbed. Imagine holding a brownish blob resembling a half-smoked cigar and having it suddenly quiver in your hand. The first time it happened to me, I nearly shrieked.

The more time I spent observing these creatures, the more I understood Diane's point. Facts alone rarely inspire people to protect the natural world. Wonder does.

It was finally time to ask my pressing question.

"Do you ever get people in here who believe butterflies represent the afterlife?"

I asked because my aunt once described an experience that made her wonder if butterflies carry special meaning. The day after my mother's funeral, my aunt's Japanese lilac tree bloomed for the first time in five years. Butterflies covered the blossoms. One yellow and one black butterfly flew toward my mother's house. My aunt believed they were my mother and father, reunited after years apart. The thought brought her tremendous comfort.

Maybe you have a similar story.

"We hear stories about butterflies appearing after a loved one departs all the time," Diane replied.

Whether butterflies symbolize transformation, hope, or loved ones, they clearly hold a special place in many hearts.

When people are fascinated by a chrysalis, delighted by a butterfly landing on a sugar stick, or comforted by what a butterfly represents, they form a connection. And once we care about something, we're more likely to protect it.

Brilliant Butterflies closes a week after Labor Day, so you'll want to visit before then. Choose a warm day when the butterflies are especially active. You may leave with a greater appreciation for these delicate creatures—and a renewed reminder that we protect what we love.