Monday, June 17, 2013

Butterfly Wonderland


I found something new in the Phoenix area called Butterfly Wonderland.  It's located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community just outside Scottsdale and it has many components to it.  You start with a 3-D movie about Monarch Butterfly migrations, you move to the Butterfly Emergence Gallery where you can observe butterflies emerging from the chrysalises.  The photo above was taken there.
Next you enter the atrium where the butterflies live and fly all around you.  It's like a semi-tropical rainforest with tropical plants and trees.


That is where I took this photo of a Scarlet Swallowtail.  I actually took 168 photos of which 108 are good enough to keep.  There were butterflies here that I had never seen before.  It was a photographer's paradise and I can assure you, there were many, many photographers inside snapping away.  When you leave the atrium, you head into an area with honey bee and ant colony demonstrations and into an aquarium featuring fish from the rivers of the Amazon.

I didn't have quite the same luck photographing the fish.  Those rascals simple won't hold still for a portrait.  But, here's one that's not too bad.

It's a fun place.  Check it out if you live in the area.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks like an amazing place, beautiful series of photos!

Kate said...

One could spend hours there. I've watched a PBS documentary on the butterfly migration which is mesmerizing. I imagine this wonderful place is totally mesmerizing! Gorgeous butterfly; hope to see more of your photos.

Lowell said...

Congratulations again. You come up with the most interesting places and thus photographs. We have been to Butterfly World in south Florida and enjoyed that very much. Your pictures are simply superb! Even the fish!

Judy said...

We went to a place like this in Galveston many years ago. What fun this would be. Great find!

Birdman said...

Yes, another interesting place that most probably just drive by. Moral: Don't take wing so fast.

glenda said...

I must visit, looks so fasinating.

RedPat said...

There is a butterfly conservatory in Niagara Falls that I totally love! Looking forward to seeing a lot more of your pic, Sharon!

Randy said...

That would be a interesting exhibits.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

I would looooove to Sharon, how wonderful to be able to photograph these beauties..I don't think we have anything like this unfortunately.

Unknown said...

Once again, amazing! The black and red butterfly is one of the most beautiful I've seen.
As a tropical fish hobbyist I know how difficult it is to photograph fishes in a tank... or while snorkeling!

Kathy said...

I think this is a place I want to visit!