Butterfly Conservatory

Stepping through the doors of the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory feels like crossing a border into the tropics. The air turns warm and humid, the light comes down through a glass roof onto tall palms and flowering shrubs, and within moments a butterfly the size of a hand drifts past your shoulder. The conservatory stands at 2565 Niagara Parkway, in the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens a short drive north of the falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and it has been one of the region's most popular attractions since it opened in December 1996.

Inside the glasshouse, a path winds through a lush indoor garden of tropical plants, with a pond, a small waterfall and a canopy of foliage. Around two thousand butterflies fly freely among the plants, drawn from dozens of species from Central and South America, Africa and Asia. The best-known is the blue morpho, whose wings flash an electric blue in flight and turn a dull brown when closed, and large owl butterflies show eyespots on their wings that look uncannily like the eyes of a bird. Smaller species in oranges, yellows and whites flit between the blooms, and monarchs, familiar from Canadian summers, are among the visitors.

The most absorbing sight for many people is the emergence window, where chrysalises hang in rows and butterflies can be seen breaking out. The process takes a few minutes, and a new butterfly pumps fluid into its crumpled wings until they harden and it can fly. Feeding stations with cut fruit attract species that prefer rotting fruit to nectar, and displays explain the life cycle from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to adult. Pollinator-themed displays outside the glasshouse link the experience to the importance of pollinators in local gardens.

Some tips make the visit better. Bright clothing is said to attract butterflies, so wear colourful tops, and move slowly and quietly. Visitors must not touch the insects, since their wings are delicate, and they are asked to check clothing for hitchhikers before leaving, as staff and mirrors help with this. The temperature inside is kept at tropical levels, so layers are useful in winter, when the contrast with the outdoors is dramatic.

The conservatory is a self-guided, accessible visit that takes about an hour. Hours and admission vary through the year, and parking is metered, so check the Niagara Parks website. It suits families, gardeners and photographers.