The butterflies — monarch, gulf fritillary, pipevine swallowtail and silver-spotted skipper — were painted by Western Carolina University School of the Arts graduate Kadie Sanders on wood panels that each measure 4 feet across. She used a projector to transfer realistic images to each panel and included their life cycle counterparts: the egg, caterpillar and chrysalis. The four colorful murals are installed along a path through the garden, placed low enough for children to see.

The project was funded through a grant from the Jackson County Arts Council to the Cullowhee Revitalization Endeavor. The Cullowhee Community Garden is a donation-based garden in which gardeners share half their produce to help feed people in need. A project of the Jackson County Department of Public Health, the Cullowhee Community Garden is located on South Painter Road.