I have to admit, it was rather nice to sleep in and have a nice quite day to myself. I hadn't had one in ages My friend the engineer was here for the weekend, and he departed in the afternoon yesterday. After a rather large gin and tonic, I took a lovely snooze for a couple hours, ate din din, watched some boob tube and then went to bed, and didn't arise till after 9 this morning. I decided to take the train into Philly last minute, and flutter, notice I said flutter, not fluffer… for a change- and headed over to the Natural History Museum to take in the Butterfly exhibit. I was in the mood for butterflies today.
It sits on the top floor on the building and is like a tropical oasis in the city and features a lush, tropical garden filled with colorful plants and a multitude of live butterflies from Central and South America, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. Perfect day since it was a tad overcast. It had been awhile since there last and the thing is it always changes... every day even. The exhibit will usually have between 60 to 150 butterflies and 20 to 40 different species on any given day. The shameful part I learned today is that the poor butterflies generally live for one to two weeks, and they receive new butterflies from around the world each week. What’s here one week probably won't be the same as what was there last week. Such a shame to live a fat tubular thing so long and only live a beautiful butterfly for such a short time, don't you agree?
This yellow one below I was told was probably getting ready to buy the farm. The caretaker inform me when they get a tattered look they are just about to die.
When I got home to the Casa du Borghese, I just happened to see this beauty in the ivy bed on one of the zinna! I don't know if it was a stow away, they do check everybody, or it if was one last surprise kiss for me from summer queen.
The noise in the background that sounds like a dog, is actually the fox in the woods calling to others. They were ever rascally last night.
beautiful creatures! each unique with a special costume. did bob mackie design those gossamer wings?
ReplyDeleteVery beauti-cisious!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! Alas, I cannot go into a butterfly enclosure because I have a phobia about things fluttering around my head. I went in one once and had to leave right away. So I appreciate seeing your photos even more!
ReplyDeleteWe've been to several butterfly houses and they are always so peaceful.
ReplyDeleteLovely spot to spend part of your day, no?
Well, that's a good place to relax. Butterflies have always relaxed me and I go here often, during the day and week...no kids. It's very calming, and the colors.....
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are gorgeous! They would make excellent jigsaw puzzles. I had no idea that butterflies had such a short life span. I've done it backwards. I started as a butterfly and became a fat tubular thing who's lived longer in that form :) I would love to visit someplace like this.
ReplyDeleteMistress, your timing is always impeccable. A nice subject of butterflies and color for such an overcast day. I know they didn't live long after the metamorphosis, but had no idea the poor things had such a short time in their beauty. Doesn't seem right does it?
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you had a nice day off.
Well, Ms Agnes, you know what they say: "Life's a switch and then you die!" .
DeleteOh no, Deeldes must have gotten into the special candy dish again.....
DeleteFANTASTIC photos! It's rather ironic that these gorgeous creatures survive only a few weeks.....while a tortoise can live over 100 years.
ReplyDeleteBeauty is (alas) always fleeting...
This is just lovely.
ReplyDeleteWould love to do this! Maddie, if you come to Chicago you need the to do the conservatory! They have an awesome Victorian garden and a butterfly room!
XoXo
I'' be sure, but only if I have a guide!
DeleteYou were only about a block from my work boy, we could have had lunch!!!! Love a monday off, and the butterfly house there probably felt good on a day like this.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to mean something to see a butterfly so late in the season?
ReplyDeleteSuch color. It got me thinking when I last saw a butterfly? This certainly looks worth the visit.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a little I would look out my bedroom window at the caterpillars; I envied them so much. No matter what they were before, no matter what happened to them, they could just hide away and turn into these beautiful creatures that could fly away completely untouched. I would love to see them.
ReplyDeleteThere is something so beautifully sacred about the butteryfly.. sometimes I think they know more about life than we do. Beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteButterflies are beautiful, and it's a shame they have to like like us humans. We get to be "cocooned" to a job for most of our live and then we only get a few precious years in retirement to enjoy life.
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous little creatures! Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good day off to me. These and the video would make a good "deep thoughts" video with a voice over track that does not bury the beautiful music. Great pictures Mistress!
ReplyDeleteI like ve how you find beauty everywhere... and share it. Great photos and video.
ReplyDeleteHow fun, great pictures. The colors and patterns will inspire your work, spring colors by the butterflies.
ReplyDeleteIt’s amazing the variety of butterflies. I remember doing a butterfly garden up in Niagara Falls. It’s not for the squeamish since they will probably alight on you. But if you have an opportunity to see one, I highly recommend it.
ReplyDeleteYes, quite a few landed on me when I was there.
DeleteI have never been to a butterfly place like this, and I love butterflies. I seem to not see them like years ago. I wonder if pesticides have anything to do with that? A lovely day.
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely creatures!
ReplyDeleteThis would be an ideal day out for me too - I haven't been to a butterfly house in years. They're all beautiful, but my favourite is the closed wing one with the rings/eyes on the underside.
ReplyDeleteAnd how fortunate you were to have a lovely swallowtail on your zinnia when you got home! My zinnias would be so lucky...