For two months, the rainforest terrarium at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden is filled with thousands of butterflies fluttering through the air, sometimes even landing on visitors as they pass through. The exhibit, known as “Butterflies in the Garden,” transforms the space into what feels like a living kaleidoscope, with butterflies of every color, shape and size. George Cripps, who helps oversee the exhibit, described the experience this way: “It’s something that you just see out of the corner of your eye and you can’t quite believe it’s real,” Cripps said. The seasonal event runs for two months, offering what organizers call a celebration of nature at its most vibrant. “Which is two months of nature showing off everything that it can do,” Cripps said. Visitors can expect to see butterflies in brilliant blues, deep oranges and striking patterns, including some as large as a hand. “These are every color of the rainbow, every shape, every size,” Cripps said. “Some of them as big as my hand and it’s a surprise for people I think the variety of butterflies there are cause we’re just used to seeing the monarchs we all love it when the monarchs come through, but in here, there’s all different kinds of shapes and sizes and colors.” Beyond their beauty, the exhibit also carries an important message about the role butterflies and other pollinators play in everyday life. “They are a vital part of feeding the world,” Cripps said. “I mean that sounds like hyperbole but it’s really not 80% of the world’s food supplies are dependent on pollinators insects and butterflies.” Butterfly species from around the world are raised onsite and released daily inside the terrarium, where they live out their roughly two-week lifespan surrounded by lush greenery and curious visitors. The result is a fleeting but unforgettable experience, a reminder of both nature’s beauty and its essential role in sustaining life. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication. ...read more read less