KIRKWOOD, Mo. — To welcome spring, a different kind of Easter egg hunt is taking place every weekend through April in downtown Kirkwood.

Owner of Seeds of Happiness Mark Borella created what he calls “flutterbys,” which are clay, hand-painted ceramics that resemble butterflies. 

On Thursdays, his team hides more than 20 of them in the Downtown Kirkwood Special Business District for visitors and residents to find and keep. 

Hunters should keep an eye out for the red flutterbys as they can receive a $20 gift certificate to spend at a Kirkwood shop or restaurant, according to Borella. 

On every flutterby is a QR code that links to a Seeds of Happiness contest where people can enter for a chance win print art by Borella or a bouquet of flutterbys. Ten winners will be announced.

Last weekend was the first flutterby hunt where an “overwhelming” amount of people came to search for the colorful clay ceramics. 

“It went even better than we thought,” Borella said. 

Those who find the red flutterbys may present them at the Downtown Kirkwood Special Business District office during business hours to receive the gift cards. 

The Downtown Kirkwood Flutterby Hunt is organized by the Downtown Kirkwood Special Business District and Seeds of Happiness.