A Beautiful Transformation: Valerie’s House Hosts First Butterfly Garden Planting and Release
/Valerie’s House families came together for a truly powerful and unforgettable moment—our first official Butterfly Garden planting and butterfly release. This special event was made possible by the Stryker family, who found healing through the Valerie’s House program after losing their beloved child, Logan.
A Living Tribute to Logan
Rachel, Griffin, and Scott Stryker wanted to create a butterfly garden at Valerie’s House as a meaningful way to honor Logan’s memory. For them, butterflies are a symbol of transformation and a reminder that their loved one is still with them.
"We were doing that one day and, you know, we know that there's a butterfly room here in Valerie's House and the connection with butterflies and grief—it just made sense," said Rachel Stryker.
Griffin, who helped lead the project, shared why he wanted to bring this idea to life:
"I know some kids will miss their special person that has died. So maybe we could have brought their special person here to them by creating a special area where they could connect," said Griffin Stryker.
His father, Scott Stryker, added:
"There's obviously lots of symbols of butterflies throughout Valerie's House, and having a live garden section with butterflies, hopefully flying around and making people smile or feel happy at that brief moment of joy, it's probably a wonderful thing, hopefully, for all the families and kids."
A Shared Connection Through Butterflies
One of the families who helped bring this garden to life was Jamie Chandler, who, alongside friends, started the Bella Terra Butterfly Garden in Estero. Jamie knows firsthand the power of butterflies in the healing process—her daughter, Kira Chandler, passed away in 2013 after battling cancer.
"In my journey, it's the caterpillar, the chrysalis, and the butterfly. We lost our daughter in 2013 and I have done in my personal butterfly garden in memory of Kira Chandler," Jamie shared.
For her, bringing this garden to Valerie’s House was an opportunity to pay it forward.
"It's paying it forward, passing it on, and healing, not just mine, not just theirs, everybody's healing."
She also emphasized how she hopes the garden will provide comfort to the families who visit it:
"It's that joy in the midst of the grief. There is joy like you can find it somewhere. And this might be a little healing. I say gardening therapy, but a little healing spot for them."
Learning, Growing, and Remembering
During the butterfly garden planting event, children were introduced to the life cycle of a butterfly and the different species that would be drawn to the garden. Leading the way was Griffin Stryker, who taught other Valerie’s House children about the stages of a butterfly’s life and the importance of the plants being placed into the ground.
Each child had the opportunity to plant their own flower or plant, carefully chosen to attract butterflies and caterpillars to the garden. From digging in the soil to watering their plants, every step was an act of love, remembrance, and renewal.
A Moment of Release and Reflection
Once the garden was planted, families gathered for a butterfly release, a touching way to symbolize hope, transformation, and the ongoing connection with loved ones who have passed. Dawn and Jim Mack, who helped establish and manage the butterfly garden in the Bella Terra community in Estero, led the ceremony. They gently released a variety of butterflies, filling the air with vibrant colors and deep emotion.
For families at Valerie’s House, this garden is more than just flowers and butterflies—it is a place to reflect, to heal, and to remember.
"When we, when I see butterflies, I definitely see it as a sign from Logan. I know he enjoyed spending time in the butterfly garden as well. But I think they're just, they're so beautiful that it just, it makes me feel like he's with us when I see one," Rachel Stryker shared.
Griffin also described the emotions that can come with remembering a loved one through a project like this:
"Sometimes we will do activities with memories or stuff that makes or expresses the entire thing about your person, which could obviously make them feel sad, happy, angry. So many ways people could express their feelings and sometimes they could become lonely if it was someone they loved, like their brother, their dog, they could become lonely."
Art as a Way to Express Grief and Healing
After the garden planting and butterfly release, the children were invited to express their emotions through art in our Valerie’s House art room. Given fresh canvases and paint, many of them created vivid butterflies and nature scenes, drawing inspiration from the event they had just experienced.
Through art, our children found another way to process their grief, celebrate their loved ones, and embrace the beauty of transformation. Just as butterflies take flight, so too do the emotions of our children, expressed in every brushstroke and every color on the canvas.
A Lasting Legacy
Thanks to the Stryker family’s vision and the support of our community, this butterfly garden will continue to grow at Valerie’s House, offering a space for families to visit, reflect, and find comfort in the beauty of nature.
We are incredibly grateful to the Stryker family, Dawn and Jim Mack, Jamie Chandler, and all the Valerie’s House children and families who took part in this unforgettable day. A special thank you to the families from the Bella Terra Butterfly Garden community who came to our Fort Myers Family is Forever Home to be a part of this meaningful event. Your presence, support, and love made this moment even more special, creating lasting memories for all who attended.
Through their love and dedication, they have created something truly special—a space where memories take flight, love continues to bloom, and healing finds new ways to flourish.
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