Positively Butterfly Heaven

by Mauverneen


The building is as colorful as the creatures inside

I saw an ad for Butterfly Wonderland while I was in Phoenix, Arizona and thought I would check it out. I am glad I did. It really is a wonderland. An indoor rainforest (very humid), it is filled with butterflies and plants specifically chosen for the butterfly species inside.

 

The atrium

It was easy enough to get to, and on a January weekday, not crowded at all. Before going into the conservatory, there is a brief orientation film and a gallery filled with various stages of cocoons and emerging butterflies.


The gallery filled with all stages of butterfly life

I do not know the species or the country of natural habitat for these lovely creatures, but here are some pictures. It was hard to choose. I was told there were about 2500 in the conservatory at any one time. I think I photographed 2000 of them.


"Watch your step" they said. "The butterflies like to land on the warm pavement." They weren't kidding.

 

 

 

 

It was a delightful experience to watch them fly around, land on flowers, plants, fruit and people. I never imagined some of the colors! Everyone, from the young kids to the ‘oldsters’ showed obvious delight when chosen to be a rest stop for a butterfly or two. Some people were unaware one had landed atop their head or on their back and others stood with a hand or an arm outstretched, hoping to entice one of the lovely creatures to land. With a little patience, they were usually rewarded. 

I'm not sure he was aware how many he had attracted. Hmmm - was it his aftershave?

A bowl of melon - I am going to put one in my garden. As you can see, the butterflies love it!

I jokingly asked an attendant if they inspected people as they left to make sure no butterflies were still attached. He said yes, actually, they did! And there is an ante room with mirrors, so you can check yourself over to be sure they all stayed behind where they belonged.

I could have spent even more time there than I already had, but the Cubs spring training center was only a few minutes away, and then I had a car auction to get to. Otherwise, I probably would have gotten pictures of all 2500 butterflies.  

This one looked like a Dreamsicle

 

  

I definitely recommend spending time in this place. I would certainly go back.
An added note – there was construction going on right next door for a soon-to-be-open aquarium. OdySea Aquarium is a two story experience scheduled to open this summer (2016) and will be the largest aquarium in the Southwest.  
http://butterflywonderland.com/
http://www.odyseaaquarium.com/

All photos are my own, unless otherwise credited

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