For six years, the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory has been offering the Flight of White where they bring in extra butterflies (Rice Paper) and add white lights and white poinsettias. In 2014, the event goes on until January 30. Note that the conservatory is closed on Mondays (except December 29). It is also closed December 22 to 26 and on January 1st.
We were greeted by a tall Christmas tree. Which made us think of Christmas. Which led us to thinking about gifts... So we went to the gift shop first! I could not resist buying a $5 bag filled with the wings of the conservatory butterflies which died peacefully at the end of their full life span of a few weeks!
The store sells a wide selection of butterfly-themed merchandise. Amongst others: Ontario butterfly maps and guides, butterfly hair clips, pinned butterflies for collectors, decorative garden flags... They also sell a $1 map of the butterflies and birds found in the conservatory. On our way out, we were invited to find Papilio the Elf, hidden in the greenhouse.
At our feet, we saw a few dead butterflies (which explains the bags of wings).
The photos don't do justice to the soothing effect of flying butterflies around us. Flight of White is not a flashy event. The white lights are discreet. Hundreds of extra Rice Paper butterflies spread out in the large space so don't expect to be walking through a shower of white butterflies. The visit turns into an I-Spy game where kids are thrilled to show to their parents each insect they found.
The Blue Morpho are sturdy and really quick. The Rice Paper butterflies are light and fly leisurely. They're close cousins to our own Monarchs.
Metamorphosis is a fascinating section of the Conservatory where we can observe butterflies and moths at different stages of their emergence. What's the difference between a moth and a butterfly? Moths rest with their wings open and their antennas are feathered. Butterflies' wings are closed when they land to rest and their antennas are wire-like.
When the insects emerge from their chrysalid (or cocoon if you're a moth), they rest for a few hours to fully deploy their wings (at the beginning, their body is bigger and the wings smaller).
The sound of a fall and chirping birds feels the air. (We eventually found Papilio the Elf!)
If everyone starts to take your picture, you'll know that a butterfly has just landed on you. Another close encounter you can have with insect is when one of the staff members shows up with a specimen on hand. Outside of the conservatory, you will find a few rooms with additional insects to admire. They're all dead except for a bee wall and a few terrariums. Some of them are terrifying to imagine in your house (such as the Longhorned Beettles) but most displayed on the walls are like gorgeous jewels or enchanting little piece of arts.
A large mural in the main hall illustrates the Monarchs migration south.
