I'm so excited . . .I just heard about this on the news last night and it opens today.
( http://www.comozooconservatory.org/como_zoo/Blooming%20Butterflies.shtml )
As far as I know, there isn't another butterfly "house" in MN. Well, I think there might be one at the state fair, but it looks like kind of a gimicky attraction and I haven't been to it. During the summer, they plan to release around 5000 butterflies from all over. I'm curious about what is going to happen in the winter months . . .I think it says it's only open during the summer. Anyway, I plan to "borrow" my grand daughter next week and we'll go check it out.
Deb
New Butterfly Exhibit in Minnesota
That is a fantastic opportunity to see so many species that you may never see again. Make sure you don't miss it!
Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth did the same thing in the month of March this year.
Como will release the butterflies into the conservatory I am sure. They live out their lives among those plants. They aren't allowed to release them into our environment due to infections and parascites that those countries may have that we currently don't.
Several of us DGers here in Texas volunteered during the Fort Worth exhibit. It was so rewarding. I haven't posted too many of my photos on Bug files yet, but Debnes has. Deb's daughter Jackie was a volunteer, and Konkreteblonde also worked the exhibit with a friend. We will never forget our experiences. This is a Blue Morpho on Jackie's hand.
This message was edited Jun 9, 2008 6:32 PM
Here is another tease of what you might see......
The Scarlet Mormon has about a 6 inch wing span.
Hope you enjoy your experience!!
Thanks Sheila, tomorrow is the day!
Be sure and take a digital camera with a zoom if you have it. Cell phone pictures just won't get the details. Also some bfs are up high if it isn't sunny. They usually had it about 80 degrees in the conservatory here for the plants and tropical butterflies, so dress cool.
I would go again tomorrow if I was close enough....have a great time. I am sure Debnes and myself can help ID some if you get pictures. We learned a lot after doing that all month.