Today, my sister and I took a ‘tropical vacation’ to Magic Wings Conservatory, a butterfly facility in South Deerfield MA. For a blissful two hours, we viewed colorful Lepidoptera and flowers, and sat on a bench drinking in the warm, humidly tropical conditions. It was a wonderful escape from the frigid temperatures and snowy conditions we have been experiencing lately. Join me in viewing a slideshow of some the beauties we saw (12 photos).
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Eliza Waters 
I love butterfly sanctuaries – so special. We went to one in far north Queensland. How do they maintain it during your cold winters? 🦋
It is heated to 80F, so their fuel bill must we exorbitant! The admission cost hopefully covers it. This is their 26th year, and it is popular with school tours, so I guess they are able to stay afloat. 🙂
Oh how fabulous, Eliza. Great photos! A perfect respite from the snow. We go to one in LA in the spring and it is so fun when they land on you. I love when they do a butterfly check looking for hitchhikers before you leave.🙂
Thank you, Jane. It has been SO cold, I didn’t realize how much I missed warmth and humidity. This place has a closed corridor with mirrors as you exit, so you can check yourself if you are alone and don’t have a companion to check you. 🦋
I love butterflies too! 🦋 looks like a wonderful day Eliza 🧡 🦋
Thank you, Karen. A sweet little retreat from the weather. 🙂
Oh My 🙂
🙂 Thanks!
This sounds like a wonderful – and wonderous – place to visit in good company during your icy weather. The butterflies are both interesting and beautiful!
It makes a nice getaway from ‘reality’, at least for a little while!
What beauties to behold. I can well imagine it’s a lovely place to spend a few hours in that frigit coldk, ice and snow.
Yes, what a sweet break it was!
These are lovely 😍
I love visiting butterfly gardens.
Thank you, Rupali. We are lucky to have one so close by. One of only three in New England.
Now that’s interesting.
Oh how I adore butterflies, they are one of life’s beautiful creatures, so fleeting and seemingly so fragile but stronger than you might think. What a wonderful thing to do in winter and thank you for sharing. You’ve lifted the spirits ,which needed a boost as we have had burst of torrential and persistent rain and as we are back on Olivia it’s not helpful for walking or cycling for provisions. And they’ve turned the water supply off in marina facilities due to a leak. And we’ve both got a crippling coughing bug.
And this is turning into a right old moan! Far too much information ha. But sun due tomorrow. And when I am well enough for writing the next blog it will be an interesting one I think. All about water and how we take it for granted. But not just yet.
Stay well and warm!!
MJ
Thanks, MJ. Sorry to hear about your hitting a rough patch, no fun. I hope you both recovery quickly! 🤞🏼
What a fabulous way to escape the cold! Beautiful butterflies, and isn’t that leaf one simply amazing? I thought you may be pulling our legs, but then I saw his own little legs poking out beneath him. 😆 I am in awe!
I was astonished when I realized it wasn’t a leaf! An attendant pointed out it even has a small hole through its wings, like a leaf that was nibbled. Nature astounds!
Such amazing colours
The best and beautiful from around the world. They raise rare and endangered species, too. A trio of Moon Moths from Madagascar were stunning!
Fascinating visit
Wow wowwww and absolutely wowwwww. So gorgeous. Thanks for sharing Eliza!!!
Thank you, Dawn. Just the mini-vacation I needed, peace and beauty AND warmth!
Oh, what a nice adventure. I quickly looked up distance from here, but it is a five hour round trip drive or I’d be checking it out. 🙂
Yes, it would be a bit of a drive for you all in a day. But with Old Deerfield village just up the road, it might warrant an overnight. 🙂
Wow. A beautiful way to spend the day in a nature that isn’t snow covered! And to enjoy the soft and amazing beauty of butterflies! Thank you for sharing your pictures…inspiration for Spring in our current bitter cold and ice and snow. 🙏🏻💜
Thank you, Carrie. So meditative and peaceful, a respite from everything!
I’ve been there! It must have been about 20 years ago, back in the 2000s. Nice to see it’s still there with all the magic wings. 🦋 I’m glad you and your sister had a chance to escape from winter for a couple of hours.
Thank you, Barbara. Yes, this is their 26th year! Recently changed hands, but still going strong.
You and your sister must have had such a magical time there. Beautiful photos. Looks like one of the black & white Butterflies is on a very ripe banana. I read they care for some 4000 species…my first thought was: and they all get along! People must be very busy keeping all the feeders filled and the plants thriving. Butterflies, Flowers & warm, humid temps…what a blissful combination.
Yes, it was a wonderful respite from the cold. They do a great job there, the attendants love what they do and it shows.
What a delight!
It was! Esp. when that lovely butterfly rested next to my heart, what a blessing. 🙂
Beautiful, Eliza! A wonderful escape, indeed! I usually visit my local conservatory in February to get a “flower fix,” but we don’t have a butterfly exhibit. 🦋
A little reprieve from the weather is most welcome when we are snowbound. A cheap fix, too! 😉
Very nice Eliza! Enjoyed seeing your butterfly images!
Thank you, Reed!
I attend the butterfly exhibit at my local botanic garden every year, at least once if not twice. Unfortunately, ours is in a pavilion that doesn’t open until May when it tends to be hot rather than comfortably warm. On the other hand, the tropical butterflies do like it hot 😉
https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/
It is a beautiful experience to be surrounded by so many butterflies flitting about. The warmth was pretty nice, too! 😀
I can completely understand how a few hours in these tropical greenhouse would be a great relief. It has been a very cold & snowy winter so anything to get a break is welcomed. Nice pics of the flowers and butterflies. (Suzanne)
Thank you, Suzanne. A welcome escape for sure!
What a nice break from your winter! It must have been jarring for you as you entered from the cold, then exited back to cold! I love to visit butterfly exhibits when I travel.
Thanks, Tina. It was a ‘back to reality’ moment hitting the cold again!
Holy cats, what a post! In my mind, I was right there with you, feeling the warmth and admiring the beautify of flowers and flutterers. How lucky you are to have this nearby.
Thank you, Laurie. It was just the thing to lift the winter-weary soul. Coastal Maine Botanical Garden has a outdoor butterfly garden, but only in the summer. The only other one is in Westford MA open Valentines through Columbus Day. (Seniors are only $9!) Maybe you can plan an outing there when you next go see Shannon and Mike! 🙂
What a wonderful place for a winter escape, Eliza.
It certainly was. A bit of the tropics for soul renewal!
Magic Wings is such a neat place!
The slideshow is incredible. It’s amazing how some of the butterflies have colors that stand out while others blend right into the background. All beautiful.
Nothing nicer on a cold winter morning, particularly if you’ve had several cold winter mornings in a row, to go to a butterfly house or a greenhouse. Or both. These are lovely images.
What a wonderful break from winter! Lovely photos, Eliza. I can almost feel the soft scented air.
My goodness, that’s a terrific way to spend a couple of hours. Escaping the cold is a bonus. Great photos.
A great way to spend a winter day. I used to grow two of the plants in your photos.
I’ve visited sanctuaries like that in Arizona. Magical, especially in the dead of winter!
What a wonderful escape from the cold Eliza, the flowers and butterflies are so gorgeous! 💖🦋 xxx
What a great visit! My son took me to a butterfly house when I visited him not long ago, and we both found it fascinating. Yes, they do advise visitors NOT to touch the butterflies, but it’s really special when one lands on you, isn’t it?!
What a fabulous gallery, Eliza! How lovely that you were able to get away to such a beautiful (and warm) place.