SEATTLE — You may not even see them at first. But this living treasure hunt reveals itself the closer you look.
"Whoah! Zebra long wing. That's it right there!" says Mike Cash of the Woodland Park Zoo to an elementary school girl as she checks her Butterfly Identification Guide.
The Molback's Butterfly Garden is back for its fourth year. "This is super immersive. Animals are flying around them? Being near them? And so guests really enjoy it."
Cash is the Keeper of the Chrysalis. "Here's a queen. Wanna hold the queen?" I of course jump at the chance. Visitors can witness the final stage before the transformation from egg to larva to chrysalis to butterfly.
This year, the big ones should be showing up in a week or three. "Depending on how well that chrysalis does, we might have a giant swallowtail in there." There are about a hundred butterflies of 15 different species in the 3,000 square foot dome.
As they emerge, Cash says there could be as many as 800 fluttering about. Most are from Florida. All are North American. Some might rest on YOU. "The may. And they do. We have workers here that make sure you don't leave with the butterflies. 'Cuz some hitchhikers sometimes might land on you!"
Cash offers an insider's tip. If you want to find butterflies right away, head straight for the "drying tree." They're almost always there. The Butterfly Garden is open through September 2nd during zoo hours.
Woodland Park Zoo | 5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
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