Butterfly Pavilion,
Westminster CO
The Butterfly Pavilion appears to offer a number of attractions
including a nature trail, insect display and waters edge display.
Looking at our main interest though, the Tropical Conservatory,
this is home to around 1,200 butterflies from around the globe
as well as locally. There are usually more than 50 different species
flying at any given time.
The Butterfly Pavilion combines science education with hands-on
fun to teach visitors about invertebrates, science and conservation.
The interactive exhibits are geared primarily towards families
with kids ages 2 to 12 years old, but people of all ages embrace
the beauty of the tropical conservatory.
Of the 50 different species, they list the following on their
website:
- Rice Paper Butterfly
- Common Blue Morpho
- Green-Banded Peacock Swallowtail
- Monarch
- The Clipper
- Greater Mormon
That's a little disappointing, especially as they're claiming
to have local butterflies as well. It would have been nice to
know what might be included (given seasonal restrictions).
They go on to say that the 7,000 square-foot tropical rainforest,
where the butterflies freely roam, is also home to more than 350
plant species from around the world. You can witness butterflies
emerging from their chrysalids as usual as well as watch staff
release them into their rainforest habitat.
Strangely they don't actually include photographs of the tropical
conservatory which I found slightly frustrating as I'm sure potential
visitors will also.
YOUR COMMENTS
"...The Butterfly Pavilion is an excellent place to
not only watch and learn about many different butterflies in their
different stages of life, but other amphibious and reptilian life
in a tropical environment. I have always really enjoyed myself
and the kids love to explore the recreated tropical forest..."
- Mike Rafoul, CO
They have a website but to be honest, don't expect to find a
huge amount of information or photographs. I'm still left wondering
what else I'll find there. There is a useful download describing
how
to set up a butterfly garden at home including a list of plants
particularly suitable for gardens in Colorado which is a nice
touch.
I particularly liked the web page on Xeriscape Gardening which
is all about creating drought-resistant
gardens to save water. The particular emphasis is on plants
that butterflies like. I was so impressed with that I've included
the list here for others to see:
The following Xeric plants attract butterflies:
Beardtongue (Penstemon spp.)
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata)
Bluebeard (Caryopteris clandonensis)
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
Globethistle (Echinops exaltatus)
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
Leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)
Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber)
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifoila)
Sea Pink (Armeria maritima)
Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)
Sunset Hyssop (Agastache rupestris)
Yarrow (Achillea spp.)
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