Hi all! Mom and I had high tea today at the Museum of Science and Industry's Butterfly Garden. We had a great time and I took lots of photos. I used Mom's camera since I haven't figured out my new one yet. I'm getting there though...
Here's the entrance to the place! I totally want that giant Zebra Longwing on my house. The super cool part is that the wings are motorized and so they flap open and closed. It was so cool!
The Gulf Frits were all over the red pentas. Actually, everything was on the red pentas. We sat in the classroom next to the enclosed exhibit, with a glass wall separating the two. Our table was right by the window so we had lots of fun watching the butterflies flutter by us. I kept waving hi and naming them. Oh, they also had a very good slideshow running on the TV that showed the caterpillar, butterfly, host plant and told interesting facts about each. It was very informative.
I kept hinting at Mom - we should get some more red pentas! I just planted some dark pink ones. Of course, this is the driest part of the year for Tampa, so I've been out there watering everybody so they don't wilt and look sad.
There were lots of Monarchs; these guys enjoy the sage just as much as the Monarchs at the USF gardens.
They had one Giant ST in there that was a total scene stealer. I kept watching it while we were drinking our tea (and eating cucumber sandwiches). Once I got in the screened-in enclosure I couldn't find it, and then I heard some people behind me "oohing" and "ahhing". Sure enough, they had found my friend. They didn't know what kind it was so of course I educated them.
I just wanted to test Mom's camera so I took an extreme close-up of the GST who was posing so nicely.
The Gulf Frits were also getting down with the coreopsis.
Mmm...coreopsis. I just now thought about how the proboscis of the Gulf Frit is orange when so many other bfs have black proboscis. I guess they like to be color-coordinated.
Apparently, everyone's pipevine has caterpillars except mine. However, a few leaf from this plant just happened to break off and wouldn't you know it had some eggs on it, LOL! ; )
This little skipper was outside the enclosure where they have a regular butterfly garden. They planted so much milkweed you would think they're milkweed farmers. What was funny was that some of the outside butterflies kept flying up to the screen because they wanted the flowers that were inside the enclosure. Personally, I'd rather be one of the free butterflies.
The Buckeyes were plotting their escape.
There were a few Zebra Longwings in there, but they didn't feel much like posing. Again, red pentas! If I have those, with my porterweed and firebush I can lure all the ZLWs away from my neighbor's house! Seriously, the lady at the end of the cul-de-sac has big firebush plants and porterweed and she always seems to have ZLWs in her yard. She's the last house on the street, and I'm the first so I'm trying to create a ZLW zone, lol!
During the tea Mom asked about these two Monarchs and I had to politely tell her they were "getting down". Halfway through the tea, another Monarch decided it wanted to be on the plant too, so it became a menage a trois! How racy!
The Polydamas were hanging out on the top. They had dozens of them! The butterfly nursery was closed but they put everything in the window so you can see anyhow. There were about seven Polydamas waiting to be released. They need volunteers to help in the butterfly nursery...might have to think about that. I can't stand to see butterflies not being cared for properly.
I left the Zebra ST at home; surprisingly MOSI didn't have any. Of course, they didn't have pawpaws and if you want ZSTs you must have pawpaw. Speaking of that, in West Virginia grandparents are typically called Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw. For example, I always called my paternal grandpa "Paw-paw Ray". Pawpaw Ray has paw-paw trees in his front yard and enjoyed the fruits. Dad said he could remember him singing (he was always singing) a song about "picking up pawpaws and putting them in a basket". Apparently, this is a popular old folk song that even my Pennsylvanian mother learned in school. It's called "Way Down Yonder in the Pawpaw Patch" and thanks to the internet I have learned the song. Now I can sing it when I'm out picking up caterpillars and putting them in a basket...errr...Gladware. I was telling Mom today that I like to think all the Zebra STs I release eventually make it up to the Great Spirit and tell my Pawpaw Ray hello. This one was enjoying my wallpaper, but flew right off to the big oak tree as soon as we got outside.
I hope you all enjoyed the pictures! Have a happy Mother's Day!
Melanie
Beautiful pictures Melanie. Thanks so much for posting.
Looks like you and Mom had a real good time. If I were closer, I would have loved to have gone. How long is that exhibit open?
~Lucy
Lucy,
It's a permanent exhibit so you can go anytime! Like, maybe in the fall when it's a little cooler and there are still plenty of butterflies. I was saying to Mom that it's nice they have the outside landscaped with butterfly plants as well. Even if I don't want to pay admission, I could just wander around the parking lot and have a great time!
Melanie
Oh, ok, Melanie. I think Fall would be a good time to go, usually alot more Bf's around at that time. : )
