SEATTLE - Butterfly enthusiasts and novices can capture the magic of flowering plants and “flying flowers” at Woodland Park Zoo’s seasonal Butterflies & Blooms. Back for its fifth year, the special exhibition opens May 17 through September 30 and opens 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

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.

The exhibit presents a story in three chapters. The first chapter, Life Cycle Landscape, encourages visitors to imagine they are butterflies in each of 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. At times, zoo horticulturists and other gardening experts are on hand to answer questions.

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

General Information

Hours: Zoo opens at 9:30 a.m. daily, 365 days of the year. Closing times vary: 5:00 p.m. March 15 through April 30; 6:00 p.m. May 1 through September 14; 5:00 p.m. September 15 through October 14; 4:00 p.m. October 15 through March 14

Zoo admission: Adult (18-64) $9.50; Senior (65+) and Student with ID $8.75; Youth (6-17) and Disabled $7.00; Preschool (3-5) $4.75; Toddler (0-2) Free. King County residents: Adult (18-64) $8.50; Senior (65+) and Student with ID $7.75; Youth (6-17) and Disabled $6.25; Preschool (3-5) $4.25; Toddler (0-2) Free. Zoo members receive free zoo admission year-round

Parking: $3.50. Parking is limited. Please call Metro at 206.553.3000 for bus service to the zoo. For more information and how to become a zoo member, call 206.684.4800 or 684.4026 (TDD).