The Butterflies Are Back!

One of my favorite words to learn in any language is butterfly - or papillon, flutur, smetterling, farfalla, mariposa.....the onomatopoeic list goes on. The names are as pretty as the butterflies are, so I was intrigued when I heard that one of the greenhouses at the Botanical Gardens in Montreal becomes home for thousands of butterflies during the early spring.

The wan winter light filters down through the leaves of the enclosed jungle and the tropical heat forces you to peel off layers of clothing as you enter through the airlock. At first, it just looks like an average greenhouse but then comes a flash of blue! A butterfly flutters by (try saying THAT ten times fast) and then another and another! While 2,000 butterflies (all of the same species, unfortunately) are advertised, and the air is thick with them, they never stay still enough to count. However, If *you* stand still for long enough, they will come land on you- like this one who developed a crush and wouldn't leave one of the SiteBits authors alone.

You can watch the butterflies from chrysallis to death (*sniff*) as they hatch, fly, and feed. There are staff members standing by to answer your questions about the life cycle of the butterflies, and part of their duty is making sure none of the little creatures get stepped on.

The orchids happen to be in full bloom at the same time (although I think they bloom for several months) in an attached greenhouse, creating a double delight for all you princesses out there. All in all, the experience is quite something, ecspecially when coming in from the ice and snow!

"Papillons en liberté" at the Jardin Botanique de Montreal [montreal.qc.ca] from February 23 - April 30 2006

Posted by Ree in Montreal » Attractions on 09/Mar/2006

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