Columbus, prepare for incoming butterflies — the beautiful bugs are fluttering their way to Franklin Park Conservatory and they brought numbers. 🦋

On Sat., Feb. 26 at 10 a.m., the Conservatory will unveil its Blooms & Butterflies exhibit where 12,000 butterflies will take flight in the Pacific Island Water Garden throughout the season. And before you hatch out of your cocoon to check it out, we are dishing out the details.

What is Blooms & Butterflies?

The Conservatory maintains thousands of butterflies that are born, bred, and hatched for this exhibit. Through this, they are able to add 700-800 butterflies each week which means each visit you are sure to see a few familiar wings, and a few new ones.

Tickets are free for children younger than three-years-old and for members. Adult tickets are $22 per person and children between three and 12-years-old are $15 per person.

A gossamer-winged butterfly | Photo by @fpconservatory

Do they really hatch all of the butterflies?

Yes — and you can check out the process at the Conservatory’s Metamorphosis Lab.

What kinds of butterflies will I see?

There are hundreds of different species of butterflies including:

Monarch
Pieridae
Blue morpho
Doris longwing
Milkweed

A milkweed butterfly | Photo by @fpconservatory

What else is going on Saturday?

Throughout the entire day, kids are invited to the Grand Atrium for a butterfly craft with a butterfly stilt walker providing entertainment.

As always, the Chihuly Collection of glass blown art can be found throughout the Conservatory and Orchids, which features thousands of colorful orchids, is also on display until Sun., March 6.

What if I can’t make it Saturday?

No worries — the exhibit is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. until Mon., May 30 + it's free for Franklin County residents on the following dates:

Sun., March 6
Sun., April 3
Sun., May 1