The Butterfly Farmers

06/30/2016

06/24/2016

If you've ever had the urge to ride a giant firefly, the Bronx has you covered. Located right next to the butterfly exhibit at the Bronx Zoo is a wholly different kind of entomological exhibit: the kind that doubles as an amusement ride.

In lieu of horses and other mammalian and mythological beasts, the Bronx Zoo Bug Carousel features 64 different types of insects that you can mount — including fireflies, beetles, grasshoppers, and ladybugs. There are also two stationary chariots: a monarch butterfly and a dung beetle. Each figure is hand-carved from basswood and painted to look just like its real-life critter counterpart.

Billing itself as the first and only carousel with a lineup entirely of insects, the Bug Carousel has been a staple of children's visits to the zoo since its opening in 2005. The ride's meant to be both fun and educational, and you can admire painted murals running along the circumference of the center pole, capturing caterpillars’ transformation into butterflies. To complete the experience, the carousel's music was even composed with real insect sounds from the Wildlife Conservation Society.

06/22/2016

Not my normal type of post.......but I couldn't resist.

06/21/2016

HAVE YOU HEARD THE BIG BUZZ??? The 2016 Krohn Conservatory Summer show, "Honey Bees in the Summer Breeze" opens July 2 and will make you appreciate what some of the world’s smallest yet hardest workers do for us every year! Take a walk through the honeycomb beds filled with bright yellow and gorgeous golden petals and even dance your way through the flowers to learn how honey bees communicate with each other to find nectar!

JUST TO "BEE" CLEAR: This GORGEOUS floral display shows all the ways to attract beneficial bees and pollinators to your garden but has NO REAL BEES on display! Keep watching, honey, for more details!

06/09/2016

05/25/2016

Tarantulas Alive and Up Close - Exhibit at the Academy of Natural Sciences - www.youtube.com/phillyaquaponics I went to an awesome exhibit at the Academy of ...

05/09/2016

It might look like this butterfly has an uplifted snout, but those are actually the first pair of legs! The brushfoot butterflies [Nymphalidae] are so named because their front legs are modified into brush-like appendages that function as extra sensory organs. This picture of a painted lady butterfly was taken with an iPhone and an .

05/05/2016

Great job Andrea Schepmann

Butterflies are some of the most beautiful insects in the world, and a great way for any parent to get their child interested in this tiny part of nature. With a little preparation, you can set up your own butterfly garden at home to get the critters to come to you.

03/27/2016

03/24/2016

A wonderful butterfly mural captured in a beautiful moment! www.GardenFun