The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens’ new Butterfly Experience opens this weekend with hundreds of live butterflies taking flight in the newly renovated Tropical Orchard.
For the first time in its 125-year history, visitors will be able to get up close and personal with a flock of live butterflies at the botanical garden. The experience allows the public to be surrounded by hundreds of butterflies that are native to the continental United States to capture the beauty and magic of the butterflies while also learning about the important role that these pollinators play in their ecosystems.
The exhibit features various species like swallowtails, monarchs, painted ladies, red admirals and many more. The 1,200-square-foot Tropical Orchard greenhouse will be home to the butterflies as well as dozens of fruit-producing and nectar rich plants and flowers for them to feed on. The space will also feature a pupa display, known as an emergence case, that gives visitors an inside look at the beginning of their journey at the Botanical Gardens. Here, visitors will have to chance to see the butterflies emerge from their chrysalides as they make their way into their home.
The Butterfly Experience has been under development for many years.
“We are ecstatic to share the news of our Butterfly Experience with our community, and we look forward to seeing the magic that transpires for visitors. As part of our ongoing expansion and renovation project, this brand-new experience provides our visitors with a chance to learn about butterflies, the plants they need to survive, and encapsulates our mission. We hope we have created a new summer tradition for our community and beyond,” said President and CEO Erin Grajek.
“M&T Bank is proud to partner with the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens to bring this extraordinary Butterfly Experience to life,” adds Don Elick, M&T Charitable Foundation Regional Manager. “This exhibit offers visitors the awe-inspiring beauty of hundreds of butterflies up close while providing a memorable opportunity to engage with nature. We are honored to support a new tradition that will captivate, educate, and inspire for years to come.”
The Tropical Orchard was completely renovated in November and re-opened in January. The greenhouse features a new collection of fruiting plants from around the world and also opened up two previously inaccessible doors with new, large winding pathways and lush garden beds. The renovation and pathways literally and figuratively opened new doors for the Botanical Gardens to be able to provide an expansive space and an environment for the butterflies to thrive in and make their home.
While touching, holding, or picking up the butterflies is not permitted, there is a chance that they briefly land onto visitors making for an exciting photo opportunity. The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens also notes that their butterflies are sourced from USDA certified butterfly farms in Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina. Their butterflies have been raised specifically for educational purposes. The botanical garden has provided a full list of what visitors can expect, guidelines, policies and more at buffalogardens.com.
More updates have been, and will continue to be, shared with the public through the Botanical Gardens’ social media channels on Facebook and Instagram, and guests are encouraged to follow for updates, and post their own content and tagging @buffalobotanicalgardens and using the hashtag #FlutterbyBuffalo.
The live butterfly exhibit will be open daily through Aug. 3. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with tickets on sale at buffalogardens.com. The Butterfly Experience is presented by M&T Bank.