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Blue Morpho Butterfly
The newly restored Rain Forest Conservatory at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, in what promises to be an Instagram haven, will be reintroduced by hundreds of butterflies fluttering brightly colored wings.
Butterflies in the Garden, said to be the largest exhibit of live butterflies in north central Texas, kicks off Feb. 29 and runs through April 12. The six-week exhibit will be open daily, including Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibit's coordinated between the Botanic Garden and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT).
“Beautiful, exotic butterflies of every hue and size will be flying in the conservatory,” said Gail Manning, Fort Worth Botanic Garden entomologist, in a news release. “People will have a chance to walk among hundreds of fluttering butterflies from around the world, watch them land on tropical flowers and lush foliage — maybe even on their shoulders — and learn about the amazing life cycle of the butterfly.”
The Rain Forest Conservatory, which first opened in September 1986, has been closed since 2016, according to the Botanic Garden. Work to replace glass, install new fixtures, and prune heavy plant overgrowth has been underway. An exclusive ribbon-cutting of the renovated space will be held the night before Butterflies in the Garden starts.
An array of Central American butterflies will flutter through the air, including:
- Starry Night Butterfly
- Mosaic
- Glass Wing
- Small Postman
- Pink-Spotted Cattleheart
- Green Malachite
- Tiger Longwing
- Blue Morpho (said to be the most striking and a fan-favorite)
Butterflies from North and South America, Africa, and Asia too will make an appearance.
Tickets run $12 for ages 16-64; $10 for seniors 65 and over; $8 for ages 6-15; and free for children under 5. Purchase online at fwbg.org/bitg.
