Grand Rapids — Winter’s grip is loosening, and Frederik Meijer Gardens is heating things up. The annual butterfly exhibit is back. From March through April, the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory transforms into a jungle oasis. It’s 80 degrees, 70% humidity, and home to more than 7,000 butterflies from around the world.
These aren’t your average backyard flutterers. We’re talking about species flown in weekly from places like Ecuador, the Philippines, and Kenya.
How do they get the butterflies here safely?
The chrysalides are placed in soft, protective boxes—think egg carton meets science lab—so they don’t get damaged in transit. They’re flown via air freight, arriving in just a couple days.
Once in Grand Rapids, the staff and volunteers unpack the chrysalides and pin them inside the Butterfly Bungalow, a special room in the conservatory. Over the next few days, the butterflies emerge, dry their wings, and are released into the conservatory to live out their short, beautiful lives.
Most butterflies in the exhibit live about 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the species. Some famous species, like the Blue Morpho, only live for two weeks.
They spend their short lives flying around the conservatory, sipping nectar, and occasionally landing on people for surprise photo opportunities. Because the exhibit runs for two months, staff continuously release new butterflies daily to keep the place full of life.
Unfortunately, what flutters must fall, and staff and volunteers regularly walk through the conservatory throughout the day, gently collecting butterflies that have passed away. Using soft brushes or tweezers to avoid damaging the delicate bodies, they handle each one with care. Some of the deceased butterflies are preserved for educational purposes, helping to teach kids about the butterfly life cycle, while others are respectfully disposed of if they’re too damaged to keep.
Now in its 29th year, Butterflies Are Blooming is the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibit in the country. It’s become a spring tradition for thousands of visitors who come to shake off winter.
Adam Vander Kooy is a photojournalist in West Michigan.
