Photo by Missouri Botanical Garden/Flickr
The Butterfly House has expanded its most popular event, Morpho Mania, into a two-month long butterfly celebration. The celebration has been dubbed Morpho Mardi Gras, and it will run from February 1–March 31 every Tuesday–Sunday.
Families can join the fun by adopting a butterfly to release into the conservatory.
Guests will find Mardi Gras-style decorations, like a parade of insects in the main exhibit hall. Each display case has been turned into a parade float; the insects inside serve as Krewe.
The Butterfly House has also stocked up on big, beautiful blue morphos, one of the most striking butterflies in the world. Masters of camouflage, the six-inch wingspan of the blue morpho is neon blue on the top and brown on the underside, which allows them to hide from predators while perched on trees.
Jennifer Mullix, manger of visitor services, says the conservatory normally holds 1,500 butterflies from up to 80 different species. But during Mardi Gras, they will add up to 2,000 blue Morphos, flooding the room with a sea of blue butterflies.
"This year, visitors can help release the blue morphos," Mullix says.
Families can "adopt" a butterfly for $75, which helps support the nonprofit farms in Costa Rica that raise butterflies for the Butterfly House. The adoption fee includes a plush butterfly to take home, a certificate of adoption, a butterfly release, and two passes to come back and visit your butterfly. Guests can also choose a release-only option for $30. A newly hatched butterfly will be placed in a mesh cage for visitors to release into the conservatory.
Photo by Missouri Botanical Garden/Flickr
Also new this year is a special preview of the Missouri Botanical Garden's summer exhibit: Garden of Glass. A larger-than-life sculpture of the blue morpho by glass artist Craig Mitchell Smith will be on display in the conservatory.
Remember to dress accordingly for your visit. The 8,000-square-foot glass conservatory is kept at a cozy (for butterflies) 80 degrees with a tropical dose of humidity. Plan to take advantage of the coat closet in the exhibit hall and remember that strollers must be parked outside the building.
And while you’re at Faust Park, don’t forget to stop at the St. Louis Carousel, wander through the Faust Historic Village, or play on the nearby playground.
Admission for Morpho Mardi Gras is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors, $5 for children ages 3–12, and free for children ages 2 and under and Missouri Botanical Garden members. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday. For more information, visit the Botanical Garden's website. 15193 Olive (Faust Park).
Denise Bertacchi is a mom on a mission to find all things fun for kids to do in St. Louis. Read more at stlmotherhood.com, or follow her at @stlmotherhood on Twitter and Instagram.
