‘One morning a butterfly knocked on my window

and he told me the sun was calling me.

I was sleepy, and I didn’t believe him,

then I opened the window,

and I saw the sun was smiling at me,

and millions of butterflies fluttering their wings, eager to play.

It’s a miracle, isn’t it?’

Opened since 1996, the Butterfly Conservatory from Niagara Falls is home to over 2,000 colourful tropical butterflies from over 60 different species, who roam freely among the lush, exotic blossoms and greenery. Once you step inside, you will notice the butterflies at once, fluttering in all directions, searching for flowers, or playing through the rich exquisite greenery.

Although I plant flowers to attract butterflies and hummingbirds in our garden, this was my first experience with tropical butterflies. You could say immediately this is their home. Some of them pretended to be resting, and posed rightly for me, but the others couldn’t stay for a second! The feeding tray was one place we could observe them nicely,

and also one of the corners of the conservatory, where the butterflies would hang on the net for fresh air.

The emergence window was something new to me, as we’ve seen various species, on various pupae stage, hanging in this enclosed space. We were lucky enough to see some butterflies emerging from their pupa, hanging precariously to dry their wings before their first flight. A couple of them, bolder, tried to have their first experience, getting outside of the window, however, they were holding dearly to the window, as not ready yet for their new journey. They looked so delicate!

• 

• 

• 

If you want the butterflies land on yourself, you should wear bright clothes, move slowly, or wear perfume. If you are in no rush and hang around for a longer time, you will definitely have a chance to get them on you.

Like tropical birds, these butterflies are amazingly colourful. I couldn’t stop but record them, and if you watch the little video below, you can have a better perspective of this greenhouse and its residents.

Tip(s) of the day:

• Wear bright clothes and move slowly, so butterflies will not be scared and fly away;
• There is a one-way path inside the conservatory. Take your time to enjoy the butterflies, as there is no way to go back.

~ visited in August 2020