Butterflies in Bloom 2018

Outside it might look like this...

But the inside of the Dow Gardens Conservatory is a tropical paradise.

Yesterday (11 March 2018) we made our annual trip to Dow Gardens to see the Butterflies in Bloom exhibit.  This annual event features thousands of (mostly tropical) butterflies from around the world.  These butterflies fly freely in the Conservatory.  Visitors to the exhibit are encouraged to interact with the butterflies - in other words, touching the butterflies is okay at this exhibit.  This means that some of the butterflies are a bit haggard due to mishandling and many of them are extremely skittish.

Butterflies in Bloom is open until Sunday April 15th.  The exhibit is open daily from 10:00AM to 4:00PM.  Extended viewing hours will be available on Wednesdays starting this week - on Wednesdays the exhibit will remain open until 7:30PM.

Admission to the exhibit is included with admission to Dow Gardens.  Daily admission prices are $5.00 for adults, $1.00 for children aged 6 - 17, and children aged 5 and under free.  I highly recommend getting the annual membership; at only $10.00 this allows unlimited visits throughout the year.  The best thing about the annual pass is that you can loan it to a friend or family member and they can enter the gardens under your name!

I don't try to touch the butterflies, but sometimes they land on me. (Photo by Shara LeValley)

If you go, be prepared for crowds (especially on weekends).  Sometimes the crowds can be a bit overwhelming and can definitely make it difficult to take pictures.  Many people will try to grab butterflies that are sitting still, even as someone else tries to photograph them.  The butterflies are most active on sunny day, but sit best for photographs on overcast days.

Here are some more of my photos from the exhibit.
 

 

 
For a better photographic experience, I would recommend visiting the Grand Traverse Butterfly House and Bug Zoo which opens for the season on May 1st.  Touching butterflies is not allowed at the GT Butterfly House so the butterflies are often in better condition and less skittish.