SEATTLE - Flowering plants and "flying flowers" burst open at Woodland Park Zoo’s new exhibit, Butterflies & Blooms. The special exhibition opens May 22 through the end of summer and again next summer.

Butterflies, often referred to by poets as "flying flowers" or "color taken to air," have for centuries fascinated people of different ages, genders and cultures. Today, the wondrous insect is ubiquitous as it continues to capture the human imagination in chic butterfly fashions, jewelry and accessories. Further, while tropical butterfly houses reigned in the past, a trend has emerged for zoos and other attractions to exhibit butterfly species native to North America.

Butterflies & Blooms promises visitors an experience that reveals the value, beauty and interdependence of butterflies and flowering plants. The exhibit should also inspire a deeper appreciation of ecological relationships among butterflies, plants and people. "We hope such appreciation can lead to a commitment to wildlife and habitat conservation," says zoo Director Dave Towne.

The exhibit presents a story in three chapters. The first chapter, Life Cycle Landscape, encourages visitors to imagine they are butterflies in each of the four distinct life stages: the egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis for butterflies, cocoon for moths) and adult. Butterflies in Flight immerses visitors in a variety of habitats with free-flying butterflies. Nearly 1,000 butterflies representing at least 15 North American species are present at all times. The final chapter, the Conservation Garden, demonstrates how butterfly enthusiasts can attract and sustain wild butterflies in their own backyards. Zoo horticulturists and other gardening experts are on hand to answer questions.

The exhibit’s ZooStore rounds out the magical experience of Butterflies & Blooms. Here, butterfly aficionados and novices can purchase butterfly gardening books and field guides, yard ornaments, butterfly feeders and other butterfly memorabilia.

Woodland Park Zoo’s mission is to help "create a sustainable future for wildlife. The zoo is a public conservation and education institution demonstrating the value, beauty and interdependence of all living things."