Butterflies are Blooming in Grand Rapids

Fredik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Photo by Charles Pannell

Butterflies Are Blooming this month at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. Billed as the largest temporary butterfly exhibit in the nation, this annual event runs from March 1 to April 30. Now in its eleventh year the exhibit features over 6,000 tropical butterflies from the Far East and Central America.

During the exhibit, each week between 500 and 1000 chrysalides arrive at the gardens and are put in a special emergence area in the indoor butterfly bungalow. Here visitors can watch their transformation into butterflies.

Once they emerge, they are released into the 15,000 square foot Lena Meijer Conservatory. Throughout this tropical environment butterflies can be viewed drinking nectar from the flowering plants and feeding stations, lighting on the odd nose or shoulder, and congregating along the stream beds.

Located just 10 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park features level access to the main entrance, free loaner wheelchairs, wide pathways, a wheelchair-accessible tram and level access to the conservatory. For more information about Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park or the annual Butterflies are Blooming exhibit, visit meijergardens.org.

Grand Rapid features a number of accessible attractions and a newly renovated downtown area. For general information about tourism offerings in Grand Rapids, visit the Grand Rapids CVB at visitgrandrapids.org.

And for more information about accessible hotels, attractions, restaurants and entertainment choices in Grand Rapids, consult the Spring 2006 issue of Emerging Horizons.