Note: This event has already taken place. If you are interested in learning about current and upcoming Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Events, click here.

When: Saturday, September 24, 2011 - Sunday, September 25, 2011 from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Enjoy Butterfly Days at Fairchild!

• Explore the colorful and fantastic world of butterflies
• Learn to identify South Florida’s most beautiful butterflies
• Find out which plants are best to attract these winged wonders
• Take a butterfly walk through Fairchild with South
  Florida experts
• Take home the best butterfly plants to make
  your own butterfly garden
• Enjoy engaging kids’ activities  

Lectures and Talks
Saturday, September 24,
Garden House

9:45 a.m.    Welcome, Dr. Elane Nuehring, President,
                     The Miami Blue Chapter of NABA

10:00 a.m.  Zen Again: Photography and Butterfly Stages, 
                     Rich Cech

11:15 a.m.  Best Butterfly Plants for South Florida,
                     Roger Hammer

12:30 p.m.  Book Signing: Dr.David Wagner, Georgia Tasker
                     Rich Cech, Dr. Marc Minno, Roger Hammer                         

1:30 p.m.    Robert L. Kelley Annual Lecture: 
                     Caterpillar Defenses: Tales of Woe, Deciet
                     and Deception, Dr. David Wagner

3:00 p.m.    Conservation Keynote: Going…Going…
                     Will They be Gone? Conservation of 
                     South Florida’s Declining and Imperiled Butterflies,
                     Dr. Marc Minno 

Corbin A

10:00 a.m.   Growing your South Florida Butterfly Garden,
                       Cindy David  

11:15 a.m.  Butterfly Gardening with Herbs,
                     Carolyne Coppolo

12:00 p.m.  Gardening for Nature, Georgia Tasker
                     Book Signing to follow 

Corbin B

11:15 a.m.  Butterflies 101, Becky Smith 

Sunday, September 25 
Lectures and Talks 
Garden House

 9:45 a.m.      Welcome, Dr. Elane Nuehring,
                        President, Miami Blue Chapter of NABA      

 10:00 a.m.   Up Close and Personal: The Secret Lives
                       of Butterflies, Hank Poor             

 11:15 a.m.   That’s a Butterfly Garden? Surprising Places
                       for Finding Uncommon Butterflies, Steve Woodmansee  

 11:30 p.m.   Book Signing: Rich Cech, Dr. David Wagner,
                       Dr. Marc Minno, Roger Hammer        

 12:30 p.m.   Robert L. Kelly Lecture: Butterfly Conservaton in 
                       Eastern North America, Dr. David Wagner

 2:00 p.m.     Revenge of the Caterpillars: Do I Bite?,
                       Dr. Marc Minno

 3:00 p.m.     How Endangered are South Florida’s Butterflies?
                       Dr. Marc  Minno

 Corbin A

 10:00 a.m.   Growing your South Florida Butterfly Garden,
                       Cindy David  

11:15 a.m.   Fairchild Morphs into a Butterfly Mecca,
                      Jason Lopez, FTBG

 Corbin B  

10:00 a.m.   Butterflies 101, Becky Smith

 Kids' Activities

Do butterflies and moths change color to survive? Or do they mimic their predators as a trick? Learn how butterflies survive in their habitats with hands-on activities and fun for the whole family. Butterfly Attracting Plants and Herbs

Looking to create your own butterfly garden at home? Pick up attractor plants and herbs and learn which plants are best for your backyards.           

Local Organizations

Learn what local non-profits and conservation organizations are doing to help protect our native butterfly population. 

Marketplace

Pick up the latest garden accessories, handmade silk scarves with beautiful butterfly prints or munch on gourmet eats from local vendors and food trucks.   

Butterfly Walk and Survey - 9:00 a.m. Saturday ONLY

Take a hike around Fairchild and through our natural butterfly habitats to see some of South Florida’s rarest species. Hike led by Linda Evans, Miami Blue Chapter of NABA, Joe Barros, President of Tropical Audubon Society and Elizabeth Golden, Park Biologist, Bill Bags State Park.

Please Note: The walk begins at the Visitor Center promptly at 9:00 a.m.  and butterfly walks often lead off of garden paths and may take over an hour to complete. Closed toe shoes, sunscreen and water are encouraged for walk participants.

Adopt a Fairchild Butterfly

Adopt a Zebra Longwing, an Atala or a Monarch today. Find out more information. 

 Upcoming Festivals

Bird Day at Fairchild, October 9, 2011
The Edible Garden Festival, October 22 and 23, 2011
The Ramble, November 11, 12 and 13, 2011
The Chocolate Festival with Coffee and Tea, January 20, 21 and 22, 2012

Admission: Free for Fairchild Members and children 5 and under.

Non-members: $25 for adults, $18 for seniors 65 and up and $12 for children 6-17. 

Eco-discount: If you walk, ride your bike or take public transportation to Fairchild, receive $5 off admission for adults and $2 off admission for children. Members, remember to bring your Rewards Card to earn your gift passes! 

Military Discount: We are pleased to offer active military personnel free admission. In addition, admission for spouses is $20 and children $10. Please present Military IDs.