Your Local Guides: Scott & Diana

We are Oviedo Realtor Diana Sacoto and Top Orlando Realtor Scott Garrison will guide you with this tour. We’ve been living and selling real estate in the area for over 35 years. We know the community inside and out. That’s why this exploration heads to Lukas Nursery and Butterfly Encounter on Slavia Road, right near the Oviedo Mall.

A Rich History: From Farm to Floral Haven

First, let’s go way back to old Oviedo before Lukas Nursery was even a thing. Way back in 1911, Paul Lucas and Mary Klimeck left Czechoslovakia for Florida. They settled near Oviedo and got their hands dirty farming. Their son, Paul Martin, kept up the farm life. Later, Paul Martin married Gertrude.

Their son, Paul Martin Jr., thought farming was too tough, so in 1973, he teamed up with his mom Gertrude and started Lukas Nursery. And let me tell you, that nursery took off like a rocket, or should I say, grew like a weed! By 1976, they made it official with Lukas Nursery Inc. The whole family pitched in, and before you knew it, they had transformed into Lukas Nursery and Garden Shop, one of the top spots in the US! They keep adding new stuff and making it better, so then in 2004, they hit us with the Butterfly Encounter! It started small, just a 1,000-square-foot space, and now it’s huge, 4,000 square feet!

The Butterfly Encounter: A Magical Experience

At the Butterfly Encounter, you can get up close with Painted Lady butterflies at the butterfly refueling station. You can even feed them right from your fingertips! Look out for the cute Chinese button quail; they keep things tidy. And get this: it all started with two guys, Mike Rich and Philip Lucas, who loved Florida adventures and butterflies!

More Than Just Butterflies: Community & Education

At Lukas Nursery, it’s all about community vibes. Their annual Fall Festival is a blast, with pumpkin patches, hayrides, and pony rides, bringing families closer together. For garden lovers, don’t miss the weekly seminars on rose care and more. They even jazzed up Valentine’s Day with exotic orchid displays! Looking to bring the magic home? Check out their Butterfly Garden Guide for tips on how to attract local butterflies.

And speaking of butterflies, their Butterfly Encounter is a chill spot to hang out with nature, complete with ambient tunes and flowing water. Families come chill with them and get up close with Florida butterflies and birds. It’s not just about the bugs; it’s about making memories that will last a lifetime! At Lukas Nursery and Butterfly Garden, it’s more than just enjoying pretty sights; it’s an educational journey and a vital part of butterfly conservation. Their displays teach visitors about butterfly ecology and the importance of preserving their habitat, empowering them to take action.

Plan Your Visit!

The Butterfly Encounter is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with admission fees as low as $8.95 for ages 3 and above. That’s right, younger than 3 years old are free of charge, so everyone can join in the fun!

Lukas Nursery’s Impact on Oviedo

Lukas Nursery is very important for Oviedo. It helps people learn about nature, makes the economy better, brings everybody in the community together, and adds to our culture. It’s a calm place where you can enjoy nature, make memories, and hang outside. And don’t forget, our butterfly conservatory is one of the coolest spots to visit in Central Florida, with lots of other fun stuff nearby too that you’ll hear about if you follow us and see our other videos!

Live in the Heart of Central Florida!

No wonder why Central Florida and its cities are said to be one of the best places to live. If you want to live in Central Florida, especially in the city of Oviedo, why not call Realtors Scott Garrison and Diana Sacoto, the experienced Realtors you already know? We live here, we have our rental properties here, and we know the community. Most of all, we’ve been full-time Realtors here, working every day, full-time for 36 years, selling property right here in Oviedo. We might be the obvious choice! Meanwhile, we will be enjoying the majestic scenery and this lovely butterfly right around the corner from where we live and work!