May 13, 2014

This Week at the Arboretum:

Live Butterfly Exhibit Opens Saturday, Nordic Walking & More! 

'Butterflies: Beauty in Flight' Live Butterfly Exhibit Opens Saturday - Visitors to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will have an opportunity to view the wonder of butterflies upclose and personal when the exhibit "Butterflies: Beauty in Flight" opens Saturday, May 17, and continues through Aug. 17 in the Arboretum's Meyer-Deats Conservatory.  Located in the Snyder Building, the conservatory will be filled with live butterflies that are native to Minnesota, as well as common plants that sustain these pollinators. Also planned are special butterfly releases on Saturdays, July 12-Aug. 16.  The exhibit entry fee will be $3 for ages 3 and up; free for kids 2 and under.  Arboretum gate admission applies ($12 for ages 13 & older; free for ages 12 & under).  Exhibit hours will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (last entry at 4:45 p.m.) and, due the nature of the exhibit, only a limited number of people will be allowed entry at a given time and no strollers please.  Presenting sponsor of "Butterflies: Beauty in Flights" is C.H. Robinson.  

On a related note, the 'Bugs & Butterflies' Photo Exhibit opens Sunday, May 18, in the Restaurant Gallery and continues through July 20.  Enjoy close-up and personal images of beetles, butterflies, dragonflies, water bugs and more by photographer Bill Johnson, who will also appear with author Bruce Giebink at a bug demo and book-signing for the children's book "Minnesota Bug Hunt" from 1 to 3 p.m. May 18 at the Arboretum Gift Store. 
Happening this Thursday - Nordic Walking with Hoigaard's - Learn the latest fitness craze – Nordic walking – from Hoigaard's experts on Thursday, May 15, at the Arboretum.  Times are 1 and 6 p.m. Hoigaard's will provide tips and walking poles for use.  Free with gate.

Garden News – What's Blooming:  A color palette of thousands of blooming tulips, daffodils, forsythia, magnolias, hyacinths and wildflowers awaits visitors to the Arboretum!

Coming Soon – Nature in Glass: The Wonders of Craig Mitchell Smith, an outdoor exhibit of 32 large-scale glass sculptures in Arboretum gardens and collections, opens May 31 at the Arboretum!  See you at the Arboretum!     

Please Note:  Now through July, construction is underway on an expanded Arboretum entry and redesigned gatehouse to improve customer experience. Please reduce speed upon entry.