Butterflies 2012

Last weekend was the first real weekend of the butterflies exhibit at The Frederik Meijer Gardens in town, and we actually got ourselves together in time to get to the Gardens right when they opened.  After seeing Grandma (my mother-in-law volunteers there multiple times a week) we headed through the arid desert area and ended up in the seasonal exhibit.  The spring bulbs were out, and I wish I'd gotten a chance to look at them a little longer; they were so beautiful!

But the butterflies were what we were there for, so the butterflies we saw!

These big blue morphos are always the talk of the exhibit.  While their outside is brown and largely unimpressive ...

... the brilliance of the inside of their wings certainly make up for it.

Right after we saw the butterfly above, a (thankfully!!) smaller butterfly landed on Mollie's shoulder.

Though you can't really see it in the picture, she was pretty much terrified by the whole experience.  She spent the rest of the time in the conservatory trembling slightly and enjoying being held by whomever would take her.

We saw some more butterflies, both real and not ...

... and enjoyed a walk across the bridge.

Then Baylor decided he'd had enough of the heat and people and promptly left the exhibit to cool off in the hallway.

Bryson and Mollie didn't know we had left, though, so after leaving Baylor with my father-in-law I went back in and found Daddy and daughter.  They were having a lovely time.

Of course, no trip to the Gardens would be complete without at least one ride on the elevator.

Now that is a happy boy!

The kids seemed to have a decent amount of fun, and I certainly enjoyed seeing all the beautiful butterflies.  We'll undoubtedly be back again soon.