Big Things Are Happening at BRIT!

Big things are happening at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden|Botanical Research Institute of Texas!

Behold nature’s wondrous transformation and marvel at brilliantly colored living jewels fluttering in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s Rainforest Conservatory during “Butterflies in the Garden,” the largest exhibit of live, exotic butterflies in north central Texas, starting Feb. 25. and running through April 10. The six-week exhibit will be open daily, including Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Beautiful, exotic butterflies of every hue and size will be flying in the conservatory,” said Bob Byers, executive vice-president. “People will have a chance to walk among hundreds of fluttering butterflies from around the world, watch them land on tropical flowers and lush foliage — maybe even on their shoulders — and learn about the amazing life cycle of the butterfly.”

Hosted by the Fort Worth Botanic Garden|Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Butterflies in the Garden will offer educational programs, exciting exhibits, gift shop items and more designed to enhance the visitor experience.

The exhibit is likely to feature Central American butterflies such as the Starry Night Butterfly (Hamadryas Iaodamia), the Mosaic (Colobura dirce),  the elegant Glass Wing (Greta oto), Small Postman (Heliconius erato), Pink-Spotted Cattleheart (Parides photinus), the green Malachite (Siproeta stelenes), and Tiger Longwing (Heliconius hecale).  The ever-popular Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides) will definitely be featured in the exhibit.  Of all the butterflies in the exhibit, the Blue Morpho is the most striking and a perennial favorite among visitors. Also included in the exhibit will be butterflies from North and South America, Africa and Asia.

Blue Morpho, Morpho peleides

Tickets for timed entrance are currently for sale online. Admission is $12 for ages 16-64; $10 for seniors (65+); $8 for ages 6-15; and free for children under five. For those who want to visit both the Garden and the butterfly exhibit, the price is $18 for adults and seniors and $10 for children. School groups of 20 or more may purchase tickets in advance for $8 per person. FWBG|BRIT members receive a discounted price of $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for children.

Additionally, the Botanic Garden|BRIT, along with Studio Outside, Bennett Partners, and DEI Consultants, will launch a robust, citywide public engagement process later this month to inform a long-term master plan for the Garden, with a particular focus on Fort Worth’s rich and growing diversity.

In addition to providing online comment capabilities through a website www.brit.org/masterplan, five community forums are planned as follows:

• 26, 6:30 p.m. Rockwood Park Golf Course Clubhouse
• 27, 6:30 p.m. at Como Community Center
• 29, 10 a.m. at MLK, Jr., Community Center
• 2, 6:30 p.m. at Chisholm Trail Community Center
• 3, 6:30 p.m. at Heritage Church

Estrus Tucker, president and CEO of DEI Consultants, outlined goals for the 90-minute community forums. “Listening, building relationships and informing the master plan are the three major goals for soliciting this public feedback,” Tucker said. “We especially want to hear from new and diverse community voices while building relationships across the city with organizations and individuals.”

Forum agenda formats will consist of brief opening remarks with a welcome from City Council members, an overview of Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Botanical Research Institute of Texas, a summary of the master planning process, a brief statement about “why” these meetings are being held, and a series of interactive conversations, listening sessions, and engaging planning activities. With health and safety of all participants a top priority, CDC guidelines will be followed.

“We consider public feedback immensely important in the master planning process since the Garden is a local treasure belonging to all Fort Worth residents,“ said Bob Byers, FWBG|BRIT executive vice president and co-chair of the Master Planning Committee. “Creating a long-term, inspiring guest experience is at the heart of this process.”

The master planning committee led by former District 7 City Councilman Dennis Shingleton comprises members from throughout the community, representative of Fort Worth civil servants, local garden associations, Fort Worth ISD, FWBG|BRIT Board and staff, and other community advocates and developers.