Green Mountain Gardener

We recently made a trip to the Montreal Botanical Garden for the Butterflies Go Free exhibit.  The butterflies are brought in by a fair-trade butterfly and moth nursery in a Costa Rican village which produces chrysalises that are sold to different organizations.    The forest  becomes a source of revenue for the community instead of being cut down or burned, and the insects get to keep their habitat.  The nursery also takes care to release adult butterflies and moths into the forest, in order to maintain their natural populations.  It was quite an experience being surrounded by these beauties, floating all around you, and making the occasional stop, where, if you are fast enough, you can quickly snap a photograph.

Is this a butterfly or a moth in the making?

The gathering place for owl butterflies. Their markings are beautiful, but the real surprise comes when they spread their wings to display a lovely metallic blue.

A tasty, nectar-rich Calliandra haematocephala, or red powderpuff.

The banded peacock is native to Southeast Asia.

Small troides native to Asia.

The blue morpho was one of my favorites.

A cobra moth hanging from rows of chrysalis. Isn't he a beauty?

I love the colors and markings of the white morpho.

A monarch soaks up some sun.