By Joel Grimsley, Arts Editor
A common morpho and a leopard lacewing feeding – Photo by Joel Grimsley
The annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition has returned to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Celebrating its 30th year, it is the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the United States. Running from March 1 through April 30, the exhibition features thousands of butterflies and moths, offering visitors a chance to observe exotic butterflies up close.
The entrance hall – Photo by Joel Grimsley
Housed within the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, a five-story, 15,000-square-foot glass enclosure, the exhibition recreates a lush, tropical habitat ideal for the more than 60 species on display. The butterflies originate from regions including Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, arriving as chrysalises from carefully regulated butterfly farms around the world.
“We have about a 1000 butterflies that come through every week,” said Maggie Coleman, a longtime volunteer and docent at Meijer Gardens. “Our first shipment arrives in mid-February, so by the time the exhibit opens, we have butterflies ready to emerge.”
The butterflies are shipped weekly from farms in countries such as Costa Rica and Guatemala, as well as locations in Africa and Asia. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) imposes strict regulations on which species can be imported.
“The farms send about a thousand chrysalises each week, though around 20 percent may not be viable,” Coleman said. “We place them in the observation station, where they emerge before being released into the conservatory.”
A butterfly in the observation station – Photo by Joel Grimsley
Among the species on display are the striking blue morpho, the translucent-winged clearwing, the large and imposing atlas moth, and the delicate tree nymph, with each species wings a different colour and pattern.
Visitors to the exhibition must follow careful procedures to prevent butterflies from leaving the conservatory. Capacity is managed to ensure a comfortable viewing experience, and before exiting, guests undergo a routine check to ensure no butterflies are inadvertently carried out.
Visitors are encouraged to wear bright colours to attract butterflies – Photo by Joel Grimsley
“We don’t want to run the risk of parasites or viruses spreading,” Coleman said. “That’s why these safety measures are in place.”
The exhibition remains one of the most anticipated events at Meijer Gardens, “We’ve had 7,500 people a day,” said Coleman. “It is particularly busy during spring break.”
“It’s just amazing,” said Coleman, who has volunteered at Meijer Gardens since 2014. “Every day you walk in, and it’s different. That’s what makes this exhibition so special.”
The Saint 