Franklin Park Conservatory will open a new Butterfly Discovery Center at the launch of its 13th annual Blooms & Butterflies exhibition, on view March 17 through Sept. 3.
“Visitors have always been captivated by the exhibition’s free flying butterflies and thousands of bright-colored blooms,” says Bruce Harkey, executive director of Franklin Park Conservatory. “This year, visitors can enjoy a closer look at these fascinating creatures through the hands-on, larger-than-life activities in our new discovery center.”
The Butterfly Discovery Center, a family-friendly environment for learning and playing, features educational stations and interactive butterfly puzzles; a butterfly life cycle wall mural and oversized butterfly sculptures created by Columbus-based artist Michelle Stitzlein, whose work is made of recycled materials; and an interactive education stage for storytime and theater productions.
The center's purpose is to educate visitors through a thoroughly interactive, sensory, and fun experience. At larger-than-life scale, visitors are able to explore the anatomy, habitat, defense mechanisms, vision and wings of a butterfly.
“Everyone’s imagination will really get sparked in this room. The discovery center simply comes alive with bright, giant flowers, butterflies, and caterpillars," says Harkey.
During the annual exhibition, more than 100 butterfly species from around the world are shipped to the Conservatory. Exotic species hail from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Kenya, Tanzania, the Philippines, China, and Japan. The butterflies range widely in size from the tiny Banded Purple Wing at one-and- a-half inches to the 12-inch Attacus Atlas moth, which has the largest wingspan in the world. Most are brilliant, iridescent, and conspicuous, like the perennial favorite, the blue Common Morpho. More familiar butterflies from across North America are also shipped to the Conservatory, including Buckeyes, Monarchs, and Swallowtails.
Daily, dozens of butterflies come out from their tiny chrysalises in the Emergence Center and are released in the Conservatory’s Pacific Island Water Garden. Conservatory horticulturists have transformed the tropical area into an enchanting haven for visitors and butterflies alike. Thousands of sweet nectar flowers offer a spectacular showcase and sweet-smelling enjoyment for humans, but also provide the necessary food for the butterflies. Visitors will have countless opportunities to observe the butterflies fly about the room and feast upon the flowers.
Butterfly Releases will be held March 17 through Sept. 3, from 1-3 p.m. daily
For a more comprehensive schedule, call the FPC at 614-645-8733, or visit www.fpconservatory.org.