A Day in the Victoria Butterfly Museum

Yesterday we went to see the Victoria Butterfly Garden, about 15 minutes outside of Victoria.  Most butterfly gardens are magical to begin with, but this one featured more than butterflies.

When we entered, there was a case full of chrysalis, and a Blue Morpho butterfly had just emerged.  These guys are fairly large, about 6-8 inches, and have a gorgeous set of black edged sapphire wings.  Unfortunately, as soon as they came to rest, they hold their wings together as you can see, so I you could only see the blue tops in flight.  However you can see a picture of one in the middle of the middle level in the display case.)

Just beyond the entrance was a table top covered in fruit, and there were more butterflies enjoying a snack.

The butterflies came mostly from Costa Rica and the Philippines, and even the smallest ones were at least 3 ½ inches across.  Most were very dramatic in colour. 

This is a Blue Tailed Jay. (?!--I don't know where lepidopterists get these names...)

This is a White Tree Nymph.

I don't know the names of these.

The most impressive in size was the Giant Atlas Moth—this one was more than 10 inches across.  If you look at the top tips of the wings, they look like snake heads, which a protective colouring.

Butterflies were not the only flying creatures.  Several kinds of parrots busy in various places, and the green Eclectus parrot male came to perch on nearby benches several times. 

The museum is like visiting a tropical garden, because many of the plants are chosen for their use as food, places to lay eggs, foliage for caterpillars, and flowers for the butterflies.  The paths were well kept and visually appealing.

Some of the plants were quite a surprise.  One had an extremely unusual flower.  I have no idea why this one is called a Dutchman’s Pipe.  These guys were 8-10 inches in diameter and hung from the rafters on vines.

Carnivorous pitcher plants were were also growing well.

All plants were chosen because of their appeal to butterflies, especially flowers for nectar, but also for leaves that were tasty to caterpillars.

Reptiles showed up here and there, including the green iguana Ms. Jibs, and various tortoises.  Turtles were basking on a log in a pond, accompanied by a couple of ducks, and “Houdini” and “Mango”.  (Only one in this picture, but there were two.)

A sleeping flamingo is apparently more comfortable than it looks.

Just as we were leaving, one of the staff came out for feeding time, and there was much happiness in the pond.  The flamingos, ducks, turtles and fish all eat the same food apparently, so everyone was enthusiastic.  I was told that the ducks don’t like the fish bumping them, so they came back to the log where they were obligingly tossed more food.

One little display was fascinating.  All of the frogs shown are poison dart frogs, in the most dramatic colours.  (Pictures aren't great, but you get the idea.....)  Any of these guys would fit comfortably on a toonie.

All in all, this was a marvellous experience.