New Homes & Lifestyles
Butterfly Magic at the Gardens - Get eye-to-eye with flowers that fly at Tucson Botanical Gardens' Butterfly Magic, now through March 31, 2008.
In Arizona's only live tropical butterfly exhibit, hundreds of specimens make themselves at home in the gardens' greenhouse. Represented are more than 50 species from Australia, Asia, Africa and the tropical Americas.
Don't miss the Emergence Room where butterflies emerge from their chrysalides daily during the exhibit period. In the public viewing room, you can watch the magic of metamorphosis unfold before your eyes.
The butterflies in the exhibit are hatched from eggs and live as caterpillars in butterfly farms in tropical parts of the world. When the caterpillars change into the pupa or resting stage, they are carefully counted, labeled and packed. In the pupa stage of the butterfly life cycle, no food is required so they can survive the trip to Tucson.
"Enjoy what may seem like a tropical vacation in the gardens' intimate greenhouse without even leaving Arizona," says Nancy Laney, executive director. "Plus, help support global efforts for sustainable conservation. Butterfly farms offer a way for local people living in tropical forests to make a living without cutting them down."
Butterfly Magic is open daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Public admission to the exhibit includes gardens' admission and is $11 for adults, and $5.50 for children ages 4 to 12. Gardens' members pay an exhibit admission of $3 and member children are $2. The exhibit is free for all children 3 and younger. The gardens will be closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day and New Year's Day.
Tucson Botanical Gardens, designated as America's Best Secret Garden by Reader's Digest, is an urban oasis in the heart of Tucson featuring a 5 1?2 acre collection of 16 specialty gardens. It is at 2150 North Alvernon Way, open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 520.326.9686 or visit <a href="http://www.tucsonbotanical.org/" target="_blank">www.tucsonbotanical.org</a>.
<strong>Holiday in Paradise...</strong> Get closer to nature during the holidays with a visit to two of Tucson's beautiful gardens decked out for the season.
<strong>Holiday Nights at Tohono Chul Park</strong>
Nov. 24-25, 30, Dec. 1. Festivities include live music, holiday cookies, shopping, and over 500,000 holiday lights and luminarias at Desert Park listed by National Geographic Traveler as one of the top 22 Secret Gardens in the United States and Canada. 520.742.6455, <a href="http://www.tohonochulpark.org" target="_blank">www.tohonochulpark.org</a>
<strong>Luminaria Nights - Tucson Botanical Gardens</strong>
Dec. 7-9. Holiday music and garden paths adorned with luminarias and decorations at midtown oasis voted one of America's Best Secret Gardens by Reader's Digest magazine. Tucson Botanical Gardens, 520.326-9686, <a href="http://www.tucsonbotanical.org/" target="_blank">www.tucsonbotanical.org</a>
Courtesy of Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau
