Sam White has been a man of nature all his life. For 13 years he has lived at Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, but he hasn't let that stop him from enjoying the great outdoors or the creatures in it.

White takes care of monarch butterflies from the time they are eggs growing on their milkweed homes, until they turn into butterflies and he releases them into the southern Lancaster County air.

White is a self-described "nature boy," who enjoyed kayaking, hunting, hiking and flying kites all his life.

Every day White cleans the cage and checks on the progress of the butterflies as they go through their life cycle — egg, larva or caterpillar, pupa or chrysalis — and finally, butterfly.

Other residents come and watch the butterflies as well.

"There is usually a good group around the cage," said Karen Bull, whose idea it was to bring monarchs to the home.

Bull raises monarchs at her home and her husband built the box for the retirement home.

Her late father was a good friend of White's, and the two enjoyed making each other laugh and keeping each other company.

Bull thought the residents would enjoy watching the life cycle of a butterfly, and she knew White would take care of them.

"Nobody else could do a better job," Bull said.

White also built two bird boxes outside the apartments. The boxes hold bluebirds, and he checks on them daily to make sure their eggs are safe.

"It's important to provide food and shelter for the bottom of the food chain," Bull said.

"I have fun," White said. "I'm 91 years old and I still like to laugh and have fun."

And watch butterflies take flight.