Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ remarkable annual exhibition, Blooms & Butterflies, is scheduled to return on February 24- July 7, 2024, celebrating its 30th anniversary. The beloved exhibition is a sure sign of spring to the Central Ohio community.
Blooms & Butterflies features various butterflies from around the world inside the largest indoor biome at the Conservatory: the Pacific Island Water Garden. One of the most popular butterflies is the blue morpho (Morpho peleides), a butterfly with large, iridescent blue wings. Approximately 20,000 butterflies will be a part of the exhibition this year, with 800 butterflies arriving each week, and 2,000 or so butterflies flying around the Pacific Island Water Garden on any given day.
The butterflies arrive at the Conservatory as chrysalises and are carefully placed inside the Conservatory’s Metamorphosis Lab where they are cared for until they emerge. Visitors can view the chrysalises displayed in the lab, learn about the butterfly lifecycle and watch butterflies in various stages of emergence.
Blooms & Butterflies is included in General Admission. Guests should visit during the day for the best experience of the exhibition as butterflies are most active on bright days with clear lighting from the sun. There will be an opening day celebration on February 24 from 11am to 2pm. In the Grand Atrium, children can make a butterfly craft, and learn about the amazing “mother of pearl” butterfly. Also, visitors can pick up a slice of anniversary cake while supplies last. Then head into the Pacific Island Water Garden for a butterfly serenade by Classical Cellist Lucy Reed at 11am and 2pm. Children are welcome to wear their butterfly or fairy wings.
Members are invited to an exclusive opportunity to experience Blooms & Butterflies. The Blooms & Butterflies Member Celebration is on Friday, April 19, 2024 from 5:30-8:30pm for members to enjoy two springtime exhibitions during this special event: Blooms & Butterflies and Columbus Blooms, the annual outdoor exhibition of more than 135,000 tulips, daffodils, pansies and other spring blooms.
For more details, please visit fpconservatory.org/blooms-butterflies and follow the Conservatory on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or TikTok.
