Thursday, March 11, 2010

Butterflys in Grand Rapids


Each Spring, Meijer Gardens imports thousands of butterflies to their conservatory for their Butterflies are Blooming exhibit. It's an impressive display that attracts hundreds of visitors daily. The glass-walled conservatory is huge-- 5 stories high-- and packed with tropical plants, from orchids to full-grown palm trees. Thousands of brightly-colored butterflies fly through the foliage. The butterflies arrive as chrysalises and, if you are patient, you can watch some emerge from their cases.

I try to see the exhibit every year. The hot, humid greenhouse can be a shock coming from the cold outside air, so it's smart to dress in layers. It's a very popular event, so, even on weekdays, it's fairly crowded. While it's not an opportunity for solitary contemplation of nature, the spectacle is worth it.

Butterflies are Blooming: March 1 - April 30, 2013

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
1000 East Beltline NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
(616) 957-1580 | Toll-Free: 888-957-1580


Admission $12 adults, $6 children.

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