A special trip to the Butterfly Pavilion and other butterfly houses to visit
In the initial days of developing Bobbety, I knew I wanted the first issue to be about butterflies. Their lifecycle always fascinated me and the idea of change and rebirth felt very fitting with my current life.
A while back, someone told me a story about how a butterfly circled around her during a bike ride. She knew at once that it was a loved one, who recently passed, visiting her. What a beautiful and comforting thought. This symbol became such a strong presence in my life when my Papaji passed away. Whenever a butterfly approaches me, I feel his warmth and security, and my nieces always shout “Nanu!” every time they see one.
Knowing that I can still feel my Papaji's spirit through butterflies, I appreciate these fluttering creatures more than ever. Their beautiful metamorphic life became the inspiration for the first issue of Bobbety. And what a better way to learn and see more butterflies than at a butterfly house! My mom and my younger sister took a special field trip to The Butterfly Pavilion at the Natural History Museum of LA to celebrate Papaji’s birthday.
The Butterfly Pavilion is a seasonal exhibition that runs from March–August. They have 20–30 different species of butterflies fluttering throughout. It's also really special to see the tiny eggs sitting on leaves and caterpillars munching away!
Butterfly Pavilion,
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Please note that you will need a general admission to the museum and a ticket for the Pavilion to enter. Well worth the visit!
A White Peacock butterfly
Butterfly Houses in the US:
Here are other butterfly houses I wish to visit one day! Located in various parts of the US, they each provide education and preservation of butterflies and many other insects.
A Blue Morpho at Butterfly Wonderland (AZ)
1. Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale, AZ
The largest butterfly conservatory in the country! My sister and nieces have visited several times and are always amazed by how many butterflies they see!
2. Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, Florida
The first butterfly house in the US, it officially opened its doors in March of 1988 (it's as old as I am!).
3. Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center in Pine Mountain, Georgia
You’ll see over a 1000 butterflies in the Callaway Gardens while supporting the conservation of threatened natural habitats.
4. Cockrell Butterfly Center & Insect Zoo in Houston, Texas
This butterfly center has its very own Butterfly Flight School! Learn from expert butterfly flight attendants and release a butterfly into the Center’s forest. I definitely want to do this one day!
5. Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado
A non-profit organization whose mission is to conserve and protect the invertebrates of this world! They have many exhibits including a Live Chrysalis Camera to experience butterflies emerging from their cocoons, a 7,200 square-foot tropical rainforest to walk along butterflies and over 200 species of plants.
6. Living Conservatory in Raleigh, North Carolina
A chance to walk in a Central American tropical dry forest amongst butterflies, turtles, and a sloth! Who doesn't want to see a sloth?
7. Judy Istock Butterfly Haven in Chicago, Illinois
There are over 1,000 butterflies to see here and a chance to see their First Flight Release, when butterflies and moths emerge from their cocoons and fly for the first time. I would love to witness this First Flight one day!
8. Butterfly Pavilion Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the Butterfly Pavilion has over 80 species of butterflies from around the world.
9. Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium in New York, NY
Take a break from the busy city and surround yourself with 500 butterflies close to Central Park! My next trip to New York will include a visit here.
A Giant Glasswing butterfly at Butterfly Wonderland (AZ)
International Butterfly Houses
1. Singapore Changi Airport Butterfly Garden
The first butterfly house located inside an airport! They have over 1,000 butterflies and 40 species. What a perfect way to spend a layover!
2. Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Kuranda, Australia
Australia’s largest butterfly flight aviary with guided tours and educational exhibits. The Ulysses, which is native to Australia, is taken well care of in their natural forest environment in the main aviary.
3. Butterfly Park, Bannerghatta National Park, Bangalore, India
The Bannerghatta National Park in India (which also has a lion and tiger safari!) has a 7.5 acre butterfly garden with about 48 butterfly species.
4. Stratford Butterfly Farm] Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
With over 250 species and 2,000 butterflies, this is the largest tropical butterfly house in the UK!
5. "El Rosario" Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary
The migration of the Monarch butterfly is one of nature’s incredible phenomena and from November to March, the world can see it in Central Mexico. A few hours west of Mexico City, is home to millions of Monarch butterflies, I would love to see this one day!
Coming Soon! Issue N. 01: World of Butterflies
Learn more about butterflies in the first issue of Bobbety! We feature the metamorphosis life cycle and fun facts about these creatures. Read more about what's in the issue here. Be sure to pick up a copy and share with your kids in March 2025!
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