Photo by Ron Lewis
The metaphor of the butterfly fascinates us – a new creature emerging from a crusty cocoon in full, technicolor glory, only to live for a brief time. It is nature’s reminder that life is short, and should be lived to the fullest in splendor.
Today, a new exhibition called Butterflies & Blooms opens at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. But this time it’s not just plants that are on display, but also the beautiful butterflies that spend time among them. The Conservatory’s special exhibits gallery is transformed into a cottage garden, complete with more than 20 species of colorful and familiar North American butterflies like magnificent monarchs, Western swallowtails, and red admirals.
If you’ve ever wanted to walk among butterflies, this is your chance. You can watch hundreds of butterflies as they move among the flowers, drinking nectar and covering themselves in pollen. All to illustrate the important role that butterflies play in the life cycle of plants.
“I think if you asked most people to explain how a flower turns into an apple, they wouldn’t be able to,” says Lau Hodges, Curator.
“But life as we know it just wouldn’t be possible without pollination – no flowers, no plants, no fruit. It’s a crucial natural process. We want people to understand that and to know there are some very important insects and animals that do the work.”
In addition to watching butterflies float around the exhibition gallery, you can also get a sneak peek into their evolutionary process in the exhibit’s Butterfly Bungalow where their cocoons, or “chrysalises” are on display. During the metamorphosis process, the caterpillar liquefies completely and its cells reorganize into a butterfly. If you get your timing right, you might even see a new butterfly emerge in the Bungalow.
Visitors will also learn some fun facts about these light winged creatures, like that they taste with their feet to determine if a flower has good nectar or might be a suitable place for laying their eggs.
For your chance to come eye to eye with a butterfly, stop by the Blooms & Butterflies exhibit at the Conservatory of Flowers from today through October 20, open every Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Sarah B.
The chrysalises inside the Butterfly Bungalow. Photo by Ron Lewis
Photo by Ron Lewis