Bruce and Shirley MacNaughton, owners of the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company — which mainly sells preserves and specialty teas — have re-opened their butterfly house in New Glasgow.

"Shades of oranges and greens so that's the magical part of the butterfly," said Bruce MacNaughton, holding a brightly-coloured butterfly.

"We love all ages and the joy we see, but particularily from children. It tickles me pink to see kids giggling and laughing and one land on their nose," he said.

The couple was forced to close the butterfly conservatory in 2009 after spiders ate all the butterflies. "Contrary to the past, two or three times a week we put on the backpack vacuum cleaner," MacNaughton said.

"We go into all the nooks and cranies and make sure there's no spider webs."

The couple invested significant funds into the re-opening. Keeping the high humidity and right temperature costs $1,300 a week.

They charge cover into the butterfly house to pay down some of those costs, but there is a shortfall, MacNaughton says, which is covered by the preserve business.

They also decided to build a respite home for people who are dying, and their caregivers. MacNaughton said it will be a place for them to relax and reflect next to a natural spectacle.

"To see everyone's face light up with an appreciation for something that nature has provided to us, is worth a lot. They may have come in looking a little bit down and when they leave they feel a little bit better," he said.

The respite home is scheduled to open in October.

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