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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Jocelyn Robertson
Director of Marketing & Communications
(520) 326-9686, Ext. 35
communications@tucsonbotanical.org
Last Week of Butterfly Magic Exhibit
Arizona's ONLY Live Tropical Butterfly Exhibit Closes April 30, 2009!
TUCSON, Ariz. (April 23, 2009) -- Tucson Botanical Gardens' greenhouse is a magical place filled with hundreds of beautiful butterflies fluttering around. Visitors can marvel at the brilliant colors, varied shapes, sizes and species of butterflies from all over the world. The last day to enjoy this spectacular exhibit of live butterflies will be Thursday, April 30. The exhibit will reopen in October 2009.
Butterfly Schedule
In April the featured butterflies are from tropical Asia. Several species are new to the exhibit, including a white morpho butterfly.
How we get the butterflies
All of the butterflies in the Gardens' exhibit are hatched from eggs and live as caterpillars in butterfly farms in tropical parts of the world. When the caterpillars change into the pupa or resting stage, they are carefully counted, labeled, and packed. In the pupa stage of the butterfly life cycle, no food is required so they can survive the two or three day trip to Tucson. Once they arrive in Tucson they are carefully unpacked and housed in a climate controlled building where they emerge from the chrysalis form. After they hatch the butterflies are transported to the Gardens Greenhouse where they fly free and can be enjoyed by visitors to the Tucson Botanical Gardens.
Where will the butterflies go? *Exclusive Media Event*
The approximately 250 butterflies that remain in the exhibit after it closes will be collected during our annual Butterfly Round-Up on Monday, May 4th. The butterflies are then packed carefully and shipped overnight to the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado where they will continue to dazzle visitors with their bright colors. The Round Up is not open to the public but media representatives are invited to view the process and talk to the Gardens Butterfly Curator from 9 - 9:30 a.m. on the morning of the 4th. Please call Jocelyn Robertson at (520) 326-9686, Ext. 35 to confirm your attendance.
Hours & Admission
Hours: Exhibit open daily 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day and New Year's Day. Garden hours are 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Admission to the exhibit includes Gardens' admission:
$11 for adults (ages 13+), $5.50 for children ages 4-12
The exhibit is free for children 3 and younger
$3 Member adults, $2 for Member children ages 4-12
The exhibit is free for children 3 and younger.
Other Featured Butterfly Magic events:
*NEW THIS YEAR*
BEHIND THE SCENES OF BUTTERFLY MAGIC TOUR
Every Tuesday and Saturday through April 28, 9:30-10:00 a.m.
Get up close as our curators teach you how to participate in the release of butterflies into the Butterfly Magic exhibit. Staff will explain and answer your questions as you witness the amazing life cycle and interesting habits of our butterflies. This half-hour is the most in-depth, hands-on experience you can have with the curators, the emergence room and the flight exhibit. Learn about sources of our butterflies, how they are fed and cared for, and the impact that our exhibit has on the tropical rainforests where our butterflies start their lives. *Limit 8 per tour.
Tour admission (includes butterfly exhibit and Gardens' admission):
$20 for adults (ages 13+), $10 for children ages 4-12.
$15 for adult members, $5 for member children ages 4-12
The tour is free for children 3 and younger
BUGGING OUT
Through April 26, 2009
Every Sunday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tucson Botanical Gardens and Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute partner to display live creepy, exciting bugs from the Sonoran Desert and the tropical rainforests of the world. The live arthropods will rotate each week and will include living ant colonies, tarantulas, vinegaroons, scorpions and centipedes. Included with Gardens' Admission: $7 for adults (age 13+), $3 for children 4-12, Free for children 3 and under.
AFTER HOURS PHOTO SESSIONS - BUTTERFLY MAGIC
Through April 26, 2009
Every Sunday 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Take photos of gorgeous butterflies without the crowds! Monopods, tripods and lights are allowed. $25 per photographer. Limit 5 photographers per session. Sign up at our gift shop or by calling (520) 326-9686, Ext. 10.
ABOUT THE GARDENS
Tucson Botanical Gardens is a private, non-profit organization that promotes botanical, horticultural, and ecological education; encourages responsible environmental stewardship; and provides a beautiful setting for enjoyment and relaxation. The Gardens, designated as America's Best Secret Garden by Reader's Digest, is an urban oasis in the heart of Tucson featuring a 5 ½ acre collection of 16 specialty gardens. It is located at 2150 N. Alvernon Way and is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call (520) 326-9686, Ext. 10, email info@tucsonbotanical.org or visit www.tucsonbotanical.org.
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