EdVenture's Blooming Butterflies Returns Saturday

The fifth seaon of EdVenture's Children's Museum's Blooming Butterflies starts this Saturday.

The exhibit will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday until October 6.     

The cost is free with general admission to the museum and free for members. 

Below is a release on the living exhibit.

Hundreds of butterflies are taking flight at EdVenture Children's Museum this spring. Visit EdVenture’s living nature exhibit, Blooming Butterflies, and explore the world of these fascinating insects! From May 4 to October 6, you are invited to step into this 2,500 square foot habitat for an up close view of dozens of species of trees and plants to showcase over 20 species of butterflies and moths native to the Southeast.

Before entering the enclosed exhibit, visitors can observe butterfly compound eyes, proboscis and wing scales under microscopic magnification. Depending on the time of day, temperature, and season, visitors can expect to observe roosting, nectaring, courtship dances, mating, egg-laying, fluttering, fighting for territory, tasting and pollinating. Visitors can observe the Bloom Room, a nursery behind glass for watching chrysalis development and seeing butterflies emerge and dry their wings in preparation for their first flight. 

On opening day, EdVenture will celebrate with special activities like butterfly face painting, butterfly windsock crafts in the Aha Factory and games such as Pin the Monarch on the Milkweed and Proboscis Blowouts. EdVenture staff will be available to give special Butterfly Emersion Tours.

In order to provide visitors with the best possible experience and to maintain a safe environment for the butterflies, group size is limited and timed. Groups and schools must make prior reservations. Cameras and binoculars are permitted.

EdVenture is currently recruiting volunteers to work in the Blooming Butterflies exhibit. If you have a passion for butterflies, flowers and helping others understand amazing arthropods, please call 803-400-1154 or email blane@edventure.org.