Butterflies from around the world are in Fort Wayne for the The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory’s 15th annual butterfly exhibit.
A mother and her two daughters enjoy the annual butterfly exhibit at the Fort Wayne Botanical Conservatory. Daughter Angela spends her birthday in a large walk-through tent filled with hundreds of exotic butterflies.
“The beautiful butterflies, they are beautiful and magical, the white one landed on my nose,” said Angela.
The 2017 butterfly display is called “Perspectives,” and it incorporates designs from Ball State students. Conservatory Manager Chad Shaw says the exhibit teaches about the butterfly life cycle and the role of butterflies across the world.
“They get to see species from around the world, we bring in species from Africa, Central America, and South America,” said Shaw. “It really gives people the opportunity to see something they don’t get to see everyday.”
Shaw says a butterfly’s life span is only one to three weeks long. Each day, the Conservatory releases newly hatched butterflies into the tent.
Shaw says the butterfly exhibit brings in 24 to 28 thousand people each year.
“We are trying to reach out and teach as many people as we can.” He said.
The conservatory focuses on continual education and is open year round, but the butterfly exhibit will close to the public on June 25.