Apr 15, 2013 2 min read

If it is even possible, on April 20, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will become even more colorful with the reopening of its Butterfly Forest. A beloved family tradition, the enchanting annual exhibit is designed for the delight of all ages, and offers intimate encounters with live monarchs, zebra longwings and more as they emerge from their chrysalides and take flight among the colorful tropical blooms in the public garden’s Stove Room – sometimes even stopping to land upon guests.

With approximately 20,000 species on earth and roughly 575 in the U.S., according to the North American Butterfly Association, butterflies are important pollinators that help to ensure the proliferation of life-supporting plants and global diversity. At Phipps, guests will have a chance to see the delicate lifecycle of these fragile insects unfold firsthand as they cultivate a sense of wonder at the beauty and benefits the winged beauties bring to the planet.

Phipps is open daily from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Fridays. The Butterfly Forest exhibit runs through Sept. 2 and is included in the price of regular Conservatory admission, which costs $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, and $11 for children ages 2-18. Members and kids under 2 enter for free. For more information, visit phipps.conservatory.org.