2024 Dow Gardens Butterflies In Bloom | Midland Michigan Butterfly House, Photos, Know Before You Go!
Article: 2024 Dow Gardens Butterflies In Bloom | Midland Michigan Butterfly House, Photos, Know Before You Go!
Dow Gardens Butterflies In Bloom is an exciting chance to see incredible butterflies from around the world (and pick them up!)! Dow Gardens is one of my favorite places to visit in Michigan and I've been there at least 100 times!
Dow Gardens is a lovely botanical garden located in Midland, Michigan. This interactive exhibit is a great chance for visitors to see butterflies up close and personal throughout the early spring months of March and into mid-April.
Kids can learn more about butterflies, too! Watch stunning butterflies emerge from their chrysalis' and learn how to safely pick them up! This family-friendly March Michigan event happens in Midland, Michigan!
See the Butterflies at Dow Gardens!
Table of Contents
When Is Dow Gardens Butterflies In Bloom?
March 1 — April 14, 2024
Tuesday-Sunday | 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Extended viewing hours on Fridays until 7:30 p.m. beginning March 15.
Where is Dow Gardens Located?
Dow Gardens: 1809 Eastman Avenue, Midland, MI 48640
See Lovely Butterflies Flitting About in Dow Garden's Conservatory!
This fully immersible Michigan butterfly house is different than others in the state in that you can pick them up, carry them around, and learn first hand about the beauty and fragility of butterflies!
Throughout the several week event, there should be approximately 4,000 butterflies to enjoy! New are hatching each day, so plan to visit a couple times for a completely new experience!
See the Newly Renovated Dow Gardens Conservatory!
Dow Gardens recently renovated the conservatory and it's so beautiful! They also upgraded, enlarged and improved the chrysalis case to allow for more butterflies.
FYI: The tropical environment of the Dow Garden's Conservatory is very warm even though it's cold outside! I usually wear a tank top under a long sleeve t-shirt so I can cool off in this Michigan butterfly house.
Admission and Ticket Info | How Do Reservations Work?
It's important to plan ahead when you wish to see the Dow Gardens butterflies as tickets must be purchased online before your visit and you must pick a desired time slot. Also, on the day of your visit, plan to arrive about 10 minutes before your ticket time as there is a quarter-mile walk to the Conservatory. The entire path to the Conservatory is smooth, level and paved, so it's perfect for strollers or walkers.
TICKETS include:
- General admission to Dow Gardens (so you can walk the botanical gardens too, the red bridges are incredible!)
- Butterflies in Bloom exhibit
- Entrance to Whiting Forest and the Longest Canopy Walk in the US!
2024 Regular Admission price is $15 for adults and $5 for children 4-18 years old. 3 and under are free. You can also make a purchase of an annual admission card for $30 if you plan to visit more than twice.
- To buy tickets, go to the Dow Gardens webpage and click on the Butterflies in Bloom ticket page. From there you can select the the day you wish to visit and then click a drop down menu to select your desired time slot.
Upon Arrival: Check in at the Dow Gardens Visitor Center. You can receive a map and more information about the butterflies, Whiting Forest and the Canopy Walk.
*You will need to reserve tickets for everyone going (because they limit the headcount per time slot) - including those under 5 years of age.
Things to do Nearby
While visiting Midland Michigan, there are so many fun things to do!
About The Butterflies...
One of my favorite butterflies is the Blue Morpho. This lovely butterfly is native to the rainforests of Mexico, Central America and South America. They can be hard to spot as the outside of their wings are brown with large black circles but the inside is a brilliant blue. They are absolutely magical in flight!
You can spot several different species of butterflies from Africa, Asia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and across the world.
Dow Gardens Butterflies in Bloom Accessibility Days - Midland MI
Dow Gardens offers Butterflies in Bloom Accessibility Days on Mondays, March 4 - April 8, 2024. The specific times are: 12 p.m., 1:15 p.m., & 2:30 p.m. What a great opportunity to visit this Michigan butterfly house!
Butterflies in Bloom Late Nights
Sometimes it can be hard to get to Dow Gardens during the regular hours, so this year they have extended viewing hours on Fridays until 7:30 p.m. beginning on March 15, 2024.
Is Photography Permitted?
Absolutely! I'm always there with my camera as this is a photo opportunity I can't pass up! I get so excited to see each brilliantly-colored butterflies as they flit around the Butterflies in Bloom exhibit.
Things to See at Dow Gardens!
"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Dow Gardens Butterflies-Know Before You Go and FAQ'S
- You MUST call head of time or go their Dow Gardens' website and schedule the day and time of your visit. Spring Break will be very busy.
- ***The time you schedule is the time you walk into the butterfly house. It is not the time you arrive at the front desk. Ex: If your scheduled time is 1:00, I would arrive at 12:40 at the front desk and allow time to walk to the butterfly house. Know that it takes about 20 minutes to walk back to the butterfly house if you have small children. If you are fit and head straight there, you can make it in about 7 minutes.
- If you have an annual pass there is no extra charge for the butterfly house. Otherwise you must purchase a daily or annual pass.
- Plan to spend 30-45 minutes in the butterfly house. Also plan to walk the grounds. Overall, you can easily spend 3 hours in Dow Gardens, Whiting Forest and the Canopy Walk after seeing the Dow Gardens butterflies.
- It is VERY warm with high humidity in the butterfly house. I wore a tank top and jeans and was still warm.
- I know this seems obvious, but just in case...butterflies are flying loose in the butterfly house. They may land on you or fly very close to you.
- The Dow Gardens butterflies are very fragile so be very careful handling them.
- Please be mindful of photographers...don't try to pick up a butterfly they are photographing.
- There is a separate place to hang your coats.
- There are restrooms in the butterfly house in the front entry.
Why I Love Dow Gardens Butterflies In Bloom
I love Dow Gardens Butterflies in Bloom because spring is definitely in the air! Birds are chirping, chipmunks are scurrying and the trees are juuuust beginning to bloom. It's a great place to visit in Michigan!
Visiting the butterfly house at Dow Gardens in Midland, Michigan will get you outside, awaken your spirit and well, give you a bit of much needed fresh air. It's kind of a two for one...butterflies AND a chance to explore the gardens!
Plus the sunshine, thawing creek and chirping birds revives my soul! I'm sure it will do the same for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Answer: Butterflies have been emerging for quite a while before the exhibit opens so you will see lots of butterflies even on the first day.
Butterflies are most active on warm, sunny days. During those days, it's fun to see them flitting, swooping and flying around the exhibit. On cloudy days, the butterflies are more restful which is a great time for photos! I love to experience the butterflies in both weather conditions.
Answer: If it's your first visit, I recommend about three hours as you can also visit Whiting Forest and the Longest Canopy Walk in the United States. There is a playground for kids and a cafe at Whiting Forest so be sure to stop and get a cup of coffee while the kids play!
Answer: Chris and I have stayed at several hotels in Midland Michigan. Here are the Midland Michigan hotels we recommend.
Answer: We highly recommend visiting the Tridge and Midland City Forest. Both locations are fantastic for walking, hiking and taking photos.
Answer: Chris and I recommend touring the Alden B. Dow home in Midland Michigan. It's fascinating!
Answer: Chris and I love walking around Midland's downtown. From there you can walk to the Tridge which is a three way pedestrian expansion bridge. Of course, we recommend visiting Dow Gardens, catching a Loons baseball game, visit Chippewa Nature Center for a nature hike and exploring City Forest.
Answer: Grab our Midland Michigan Restaurant guide...but we love Aster, Cafe Zinc and Pizza Baker. Chris and I have eaten at these restaurants several times.
Answer: Only during the Butterflies in Bloom exhibit in March and April
Answer: No, pets are not allowed in the botanical gardens.
Visit Whiting Forest Next Door!
Connected to Dow Gardens is the Longest Canopy Walk in America. Park once, use your pass you purchased at Dow Gardens and walk over!
Author: Sherry Trautman
Author | Sherry Trautman is a seasoned business owner and a multifaceted content creator, deeply entrenched in the world of travel in Michigan. With her extensive background in writing, editing, photography, marketing, website design, web mastering, social media, and publishing, she is the driving force behind the acclaimed Michigan Travel site "Travel-mi.com." A lifelong Michigander...read more about Sherry Trautman
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