Butterflies and Blooms

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
—A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, 1859

Early on a Saturday morning, a hot July day was starting to shimmer and sizzle. I felt my skin struggle to breathe. Drops of sweat raced down my back. This was just my second time holding my new macro lens. The heat and sun energized the butterflies into unpredictable patterns. I felt the pressure. The heat was on. With my new macro lens, and the sultry summer morning urging the butterflies to spread their wings, how would it all unfold?

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“I am surprised by the butterflies landing on us! They’re not afraid of us at all as we move through the exhibit of Butterflies & Blooms. They’re very energetic. It’s interesting to learn that they can’t fly until their wings dry. Seeing the release of new butterflies into the exhibit is interesting too. The butterflies are beautiful in so many shapes, sizes and colors!”

A few years ago, Lisa and I visited Butterflies & Blooms at the Chicago Botanic Garden when it was a temporary seasonal exhibit. The white mesh enclosure appeared then easy to assemble and disassemble. This time the structure was a permanent fixture, open from May 31 to September 6 this season, weather permitting. The Regenstein Learning Campus hosted this exhibit, which required timed-entry tickets that permitted about a dozen or so visitors at a time. Guests were welcome to enjoy their walk through the butterfly garden as long as they wished. Since the enclosure was 2,800 square feet, there was ample room for butterflies, blooms and visitors alike.

Stepping into the butterfly garden felt like a transformation. It was so bright, colorful, hot, humid, and beautiful. Butterflies were everywhere. The fragrance of fresh blooms stirred the senses. The laughter of children and adults echoed together. The Chicago Botanic Garden provided laminated cards at the front of the enclosure. Helpful staff strolled through the exhibit to answer questions or guide visitors to more diversity nestled in the dappled greenery.

The butterflies were not deterred by Lisa, my mom and me. They sometimes stopped on us to rest or extend their proboscis (a tongue like a straw) to taste the salt in our sweat. The butterflies were gentle and seemed nobly intelligent. Seeing them with the naked eye was exhilarating, but seeing them through the macro lens was like opening a tiny door to an impossibly small world, that when entered, became an infinite sensory experience.

“It’s nice to see so many different kinds of butterflies in one place! Some have beautiful patterns and some have vivid colors. Their beauty and elegance are something to see. I feel like a kid again at Butterflies & Blooms!”

Along the U-shaped walkway, the Chicago Botanic Garden placed signs that summarized the four primary stages of a butterfly’s life. By the pupa demonstration window, a board listed the active butterflies in the enclosure. During our previous visit, Lisa and I had learned from a guide that when a butterfly is nearing the end of its life, it gradually tires and spends its time exclusively on the ground. We remembered this from our first visit, so we were extra careful to look where we walked. I saw one survivor that was not included in the placard or the active board. It was extraordinary, and I felt fortunate to see it in its final days.

After we saw so many butterflies and blooms, the friendly staff helped us prepare to leave the enclosure by checking us for any passengers. The Chicago Botanic Garden associates were very good to keep out unwanted guests, and keep in the guests of honor. We felt so honored to be welcomed into the tiny world of butterflies and blooms, so expansive when seen up close through the macro lens, like a tiny egg that ultimately bursts into a vivid flurry of color.

“I feel honored when a butterfly lands on me at Butterflies & Blooms for a rest or a taste of salt! Seeing them up close through the macro lens is their way of inviting us into their tiny world of bright colors and beauty. The magical transformation from caterpillar to butterfly is amazing and inspiring!”

Mom: “It’s nice to see so many different kinds of butterflies in one place! Some have beautiful patterns and some have vivid colors. Their beauty and elegance are something to see. I feel like a kid again at Butterflies & Blooms!” Lisa: “I am surprised by the butterflies landing on us! They’re not afraid of us at all as we move through the exhibit of Butterflies & Blooms. They’re very energetic. It’s interesting to learn that they can’t fly until their wings dry. Seeing the release of new butterflies into the exhibit is interesting too. The butterflies are beautiful in so many shapes, sizes and colors!” And me: “I feel honored when a butterfly lands on me at Butterflies & Blooms for a rest or a taste of salt! Seeing them up close through the macro lens is their way of inviting us into their tiny world of bright colors and beauty. The magical transformation from caterpillar to butterfly is amazing and inspiring!”

When life makes you sweat, treat a butterfly. I almost panicked at the start when I saw so much hyperkinetic energy. And then I started to flit about, moving unpredictably here and there, sometimes stopping to rest, always enjoying the moment. Not all the butterflies were listed on the placard or board. Transform and embrace life.

It was the best of times.

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To learn more or plan your visit to Butterflies & Blooms at the Chicago Botanic Garden, click Butterflies & Blooms | Chicago Botanic Garden

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