Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden Butterfly Exhibit
The delights of the Butterfly Exhibit at Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden
A glimpse of a butterfly as it flutters by is likely to bring a smile to your face. Its intricate design of colours and carefree, elusive flight speak of beauty and freedom. The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly has become a metaphor for resurrections and transformation.
The Spring Butterfly Exhibit at Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden provided a wonderful opportunity to surround myself with butterflies.
Signs in the exhibit provide information about the butterflies. Butterflies need an air temperature of at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 Celsius) to warm their wings for flying. Butterflies visit flowers for nectar, their main energy source. Butterflies roost in trees or plants during inclement weather and at night. They need at least 14 hours of rest a day.
Butterflies and moths may look alike but there are differences. Butterfly bodies are usually thin and their antennae are clubbed. Moth bodies are often plump and hairy. The antennae of male moths are feathery. Butterflies are active during the day. Moths are active at night.
Desert Botanical Garden presents a butterfly exhibit in spring and another one in fall. The annual Spring Butterfly Exhibit usually starts in March and runs into May. The fall exhibit may start at the end of September and run until mid-November.
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This post is linked to Travel Photo Mondays
I always love going to butterfly parks…sweet visit!
This is a handy travel tip for our upcoming trip to Phoenix. Certainly adding the Desert Botanical Garden to our list of things to do.
I’ve seen some of these butterfly exhibits in a few places that I’ve traveled to, but I’ve never been. The photos are lovely, and I think I’ll include a visit next time there’s an opportunity to tour a butterfly garden.
Oooohh! Awww! Look at that one! I love butterflies…nice photos!
WoW! I’ve never seen such wonderful photos of butterflys. I visited Tuscon last Fall. maybe Phoenix will be next?
What an amazing experience that must have been, Donna! So many varieties of butterflies to discover. Makes me think that spring may finally be coming!
I love butterflies! Your photos are beautiful!!
Butterflies can be so much fun to photograph. They always remind me of spring, which seems to be on the way!
I’ve only been in one butterfly exhibit, but I really liked it and got tons of great pictures.
Beautiful photos! The only time I was in a butterfly garden was also probably the only time I didn’t have a camera (even a phone) on me so I’m so glad you took these pictures!
I’ve only visited the Garden over the Christmas season. Seems like each season has its special draws~
I had no idea Phoenix had a butterfly garden but I’m glad they’re preserving and protecting these endangered species. There is a large butterfly conservatory here in Niagara Ontario and I was told that butterflies are attracted to red clothing so I’m not surprised to see one landed on the red shirt in the photo!
Hi Donna,
I SO needed this post and your pretty photos this morning — Here it is March 26th and we have snow today in Michigan. This has been such a brutal winter that won’t end!
Seeing the green vegetation and beautiful butterflies is a jolt of freshness and warmth. I thank you!
Josie
The exhibit looks lovely… We saw thousands of Monarch butterflies recently in a natural butterfly sanctuary high in the mountains near Morelia, Mexico. That’s where they migrate to overwinter before returning back to eastern US and Canada in the spring. That was quite special…
Thanks for all the comments.