The Florida Museum of Natural History's Butterfly Garden is home to myriad species.
Garden of Peace
By MATTHEW GONZALEZ
Royal Bugs
By LIDIA DINKOVA, Alligator Contributing Writer
Squirrels may be the unofficial mascot on campus, but butterflies are royalty at the university's Butterfly Rainforest, part of UF's Harn Museum of Art. The rainforest has approximately 90 different species of butterflies and up to 2,000 butterflies in all, said Michael Boulware, a Living Exhibit Specialist at the garden.
The main goals in creating the Butterfly Rainforest are to educate people about butterflies and to show people what exotic butterflies look like, Boulware said.
"People who live here in Florida do not have to travel thousands of miles to see tropical butterflies," he added.
The garden is mostly popular for its serene atmosphere. Lorraine Alexandre, of San Diego, visited the garden on Saturday and described the view as magical.
"I feel like I've walked into another world," Alexandre said. "Even with all the people here, it is still very tranquil."
