Wings of Fancy

On Friday I took the kids to Brookside Gardens to see the Wings of Fancy Butterfly exhibit. This place was on my list of summer activities for a couple of years and I was happy to finally get to go. The greenhouse that houses the butterflies is ten degrees warmer than the outside temperature so I knew I didn't want to go on a hot and humid day. Friday's weather was perfect.
First you go into the caterpillar room. This cool little caterpillar looks like he has a saddle on him.

But you don't want to touch him!

This is the same kind of caterpillar but he looks very different. A predator wasp got into the caterpillar room and laid eggs all over this poor little guy.

Strollers are not allowed in the butterfly exhibit so I carried Josiah in the Bjorn. He slept the entire time.

Several of the butterflies were enjoying their lunch.

There was a sign explaining what happens to the butterflies after the exhibt closes on September 19.

On a windowsill were two butterflies that were so beautiful I wondered if they were real. One flew away right before I snapped this picture.

Another beautiful butterfly.

Wesley and Lydia found it necessary to lean back on this butterfly bench. They look like they are on the spinning teacups.

Pretty butterflies and pretty flowers.

It was fun to see so many butterflies.

Wesley desperately wanted a butterfly to land on him and one finally did, briefly. One landed on Lydia and in her excitement she quickly shooed it away.

Inside the exhibit, Lydia asked to go to lunch several times but once we were outside she never mentioned it. The grounds are beautiful with several nice fountains. Wesley and Lydia loved walking on the trails.

Wesley took this picture. Lydia took this one. Not too bad for one of her first times using the camera (if not the first time).

I was relieved to find out that they don't allow picnics. I didn't have to feel guilty about not packing lunch. However, we should have gone after lunch because I was so hungry that I made the kids leave before they were really done walking around on the trails.

I look forward to going again next summer.