On Monday my mom and I spent a few hours together - just the two of us - at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Their annual Butterfly Forest opened recently, and you know how much I love butterflies. So I just had to go see what it was all about. We had a lovely day. She was very patient with me while I took my gazillion photos. There was just so much to see! Here are just a few ...
I don't remember what most of these are called except this last one, I believe, was labeled as a Moth Orchid.
We came across these White Peacock's making baby butterflies on what was labeled as a shrimp plant. They didn't seem bothered by me photographing them in action. :)
There weren't a lot of butterflies in the Butterfly Forest yet. Many were still in chrysalis. But as we were making our way through, one of the workers had just taken a newly-emerged Monarch out of the hatchery (for lack of a better term). I was so excited to see it and told her how we raise Monarchs every summer, God willing. So she immediately held the Monarch out for me to hold (even though the sign says not to handle them). I showed her and my mom how to tell the gender. That particular Monarch was a female. Then I walked around in that oh-so-familiar position of a Monarch butterfly hanging from my left index finger. I was telling my mom how I am pretty good at doing things one-handed when raising butterflies since Monarchs can hang for hours waiting for their wings to dry.
My mom and I had such a lovely time together. However, we didn't make it through the entire tour. Once home I discussed with my husband the idea of getting a membership so I can go back as often as I am able. He agreed and we are now members. I plan to take the kids once school is out. I know Keira would love it. I'm not so sure about the boys though. There might be some bribing going on if they come along. :)
There weren't a lot of butterflies in the Butterfly Forest yet. Many were still in chrysalis. But as we were making our way through, one of the workers had just taken a newly-emerged Monarch out of the hatchery (for lack of a better term). I was so excited to see it and told her how we raise Monarchs every summer, God willing. So she immediately held the Monarch out for me to hold (even though the sign says not to handle them). I showed her and my mom how to tell the gender. That particular Monarch was a female. Then I walked around in that oh-so-familiar position of a Monarch butterfly hanging from my left index finger. I was telling my mom how I am pretty good at doing things one-handed when raising butterflies since Monarchs can hang for hours waiting for their wings to dry.
My mom and I had such a lovely time together. However, we didn't make it through the entire tour. Once home I discussed with my husband the idea of getting a membership so I can go back as often as I am able. He agreed and we are now members. I plan to take the kids once school is out. I know Keira would love it. I'm not so sure about the boys though. There might be some bribing going on if they come along. :)
16 comments:
Gorgeous!! I just love Botanical Gardens!
Beautiful pics!
Um, these are beautiful!! And that butterfly shot is amazing! Wow! I'm a little speechless. Bravo. And how awesome to have a membership to the gardens so you can return as often as you'd like. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful captures and linking to our Nurture Photography Challenge this week!
so beautiful and delicate. the butterflies look like they are done in watercolor. :)
Those are so beautiful. You captured so much detail on all the flowers. Gorgeous.
We have a butterfly conservatory just a few hours away. I'm a total chicken to walk through it.
What a beautiful place. You totally should get a membership! These are gorgeous.
Oh Kimberly its great to be back blogging again and catching up with so many fellow bloggers. Loved seeing your visit to the gardens in pictures .......makes me wish there was somewhere close by here that had such beautiful butterflies to photograph.
my blog as clickling this will take you to my G+ account. http://studio.leavesnbloom.com
A lovely place to have a membership to! Your Pictures are beautiful - I love the lilac plant wtih the teo, small pale lilac flowers!
All are perfectly beautiful. The last is my favorite. Love the colors.
Two wonderful places! Thanks for sharing.
Oh, these are amazing. Love the yellows!
Kimberly,
What a great way to spend the day and even better to have your Mom join you. FUN!
This is an amazing set of pictures.
Very beautiful photos. My favorite is the yellow flowers with a few white petals.
Oh, these are beautiful! I wish we had a botanical gardens close to us.
GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!! You take the most amazing nature photos. In awe.....
These photos are incredible! I absolutely love the shot of the butterflies making babies. ;) And how wonderful that you now have a membership. Sounds like you had a great time with your mom. :)
Thanks so much for sharing these in the Nurture Photography Challenge! I can't wait to see what you come up with for our new theme: Ivory/Dream!
P.S. Sorry for stopping by so late. Unfortunately, there was a death in my family and I just didn't feel up to visiting blogs right away. I hope you'll understand. :)
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