For viewing and identifying the butterflies in your garden, I strongly recommend close-focusing binoculars. To me, seeing butterflies move about freely in their environment is more enjoyable than capturing them in a net and looking at them as they try to escape.

There are many close-focusing binoculars available. I use a pair of binoculars that can focus on objects about six feet away. They are a Cabela's brand (made in Japan) with 8 x 32 power. Cabela's is a mail order catalog that you can obtain by calling 800-237-4444. A 1999 catalog carries an 8 x 42 model for $279.99.  In 2003, Cabela's replaced my pair for free because the hinge was too loose.