It's a butterfly world out there. . .

I do my weekly Friday morning tram tours at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and by the end of the last tour, at 1pm, I am usually very happy to go directly home.  This Friday marked the last of my tours that included information on the installation of gorgeous Chihuly glass sculpture throughout the Garden.  With the arrival of the Hurricane Season, all art must be removed, and while I will miss the fabulous sculptures, I won't miss the giant crowds and full trams that have marked the last five months.

Newly released butterfly, waiting to open its wings.

Because I had my own visitors on my 12:30 tram yesterday, I stayed to have lunch at the Garden's Glasshaus Cafe and then accompanied my friends into the Exotic Butterfly Garden.  I  always urge  my tram guests to visit the Butterfly Garden, telling them that "it is a magical experience, with literally hundreds of  them fluttering overhead."  To tell you the truth, I hadn't actually visited the enclosed area since it officially opened over a year ago, so yesterday's visit was truly as magical an experience for me as it was for my guests.  It was, in fact, awesome.

We got really lucky and found ourselves on hand for the afternoon "release" of butterflies recently emerged from their cocoons. Two releases a day take place and you have to be very bored with life not to find yourself thrilled when the guide places the quivering butterfly, its wings still closed shut,, on your outstretched hand,  As you hold your breath, it begins to spread its wings a little wider apart with every passing second, until fully open and fluttering gently, it takes off on its first flight into the surrounding foliage.

I promise you, it really is a magical experience.

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