The Glass House

Project 15 - Day 70

If I were a good blogger committed to educating my readership I would Google butterflies and be able to tell you that:

1. Butterflies are day flying insects. (It doesn't seem quite right to classify the beautiful butterfly in the same category as the mosquito or the pesky no-seeum but that's the way of it.)

2. A few species migrate, sometimes thousands of miles. If that were me I would be DOA (dead on arrival) or at least in dire need of a cold beverage.

3. Adult butterflies have a life span of between 1-week and almost a year depending on the species. Those poor creatures who only live a week. Makes you wonder if it's worth all the effort they expend scratching their way out of those cocoons.

If I were a good blogger I would also have done my research and be able to tell you what species each and every one of these belongs to. Sorry, I didn't do my research. That probably means I won't receive the Blogger of the Year Award. I'll try and accept it.

I can tell you that behind this building at Callaway Gardens lies a large, glass house that is filled with colorful, free flying butterflies of all kinds. It is a sight to behold, at least it is when you can find them. Mother Nature has provided them with camouflage that keeps them hidden from predators. But when they are flying, the air in that glass house is filled with colorful creatures flitting here and there with no particular place to go.

On the day we visited it was also filled with a lot of free flying school children on field trips. It was a noisy venue but I think the children kept the butterflies on the move because once the kids left, the butterflies were much harder to locate.

The giant pictured above must have had a wing span of 6" or more. It was enormous. By far the largest butterfly I had ever seen. Up close. In person. This guy didn't seem to feel threatened at all. Just hung out on his tree and ignored the chaos surrounding him.

This little dude has his proboscis rolled up nice and tight. That's the way boat line is supposed to look when not in use. Ours never does. Just so you know.

All in all it was a good day for butterflies and school children. And photographers too.