The Botanical Conservatory celebrates its 17th year of live butterfly expositions with the all new “Migrations Butterfly Exhibit,” on display now through July 7.

The main focus of “Migrations” is the life of the majestic monarch butterfly, famous for its astonishing 3,000-mile annual migration from Canada to Mexico. The monarch is the only butterfly known to make a two-way migration as birds do. Unlike other butterflies that can sustain the winter as larvae, pupae, or even as adults, monarchs cannot survive the cold winters of northern climates.

They use environmental cues and natural instincts to sense when it is time to pack their bags and travel south for the winter, often hibernating in and around the very same trees year after year, which is odd because they aren’t the same butterflies that were there the year before.

Offering many educational opportunities as well as a fun and visually appealing exhibit, patrons can follow the migratory path of the monarch, discovering the challenges and obstacles they face as they head to warmer climate to wait out the falling temperatures of the north.

Other species of butterflies are featured in the exhibit as well, many of which do not migrate, instead opting to stay in their local habitat.

The highlight of the exhibit comes when you can enjoy a personal encounter with hundreds of these non-migratory tropical butterflies as they fly, feed, and show off their individual colors and designs, clamoring for attention as they effortlessly glide through the air, seemingly with no particular place to go.