Olbrich Home Bolz Conservatory

Butterfly in Olbrich's Bolz ConservatoryOlbrich's Blooming Butterflies

July 18 - August 12

10 am - 4 pm daily

The Bolz Conservatory will be closed July 16 & 17 in preparation for Olbrich's Blooming Butterflies.

Experience the magnificence of free-flying butterflies while strolling through the tropical Bolz Conservatory. Live butterflies emerge from chrysalises daily in the Conservatory, including low-flyers like the playful yellow and black striped zebras and bright orange julias. More than a dozen species of butterflies, native to both Wisconsin and the more tropical areas of the southern United States can be seen at various times during the exhibit.

The life span of different butterflies varies from a few weeks to a few months. All flying butterflies are allowed to live out their natural lives in the Conservatory, with food sources remaining for them after the exhibit dates.

For more fun butterfly facts, read our Butterfly Fact Sheet. arrow

To see how Olbrich staff and volunteers prepare for Olbrich's Blooming Butterflies, visit

Behind the Scenes of Blooming Butterflies

Tickets
$5 ages 13 & up
$3 ages 3 - 12
Free: ages 2 and under
Free: Olbrich Botanical Society members

Butterfly Passports

After spotting bright butterflies inside the Bolz Conservatory, children can follow butterfly stencils on the paths through the outdoor gardens on a quest to fill their Butterfly Passports with stamps. Find the stamping stations, read a few fun facts, then answer a few simple questions. Fill up the passport and earn one free junior cone from Michael's Frozen Custard, valid at the 3826 Atwood Ave. location.

Dan Capps' Insect Cases

All visitors to Olbrich Botanical Gardens and Olbrich's Blooming Butterflies can be amazed by hundreds of exotic butterflies in local collector Dan Capps' fascinating collection. Part of Capps' collection will be on display in Olbrich's lobby during Olbrich's Blooming Butterflies. Capps has traveled the world to build one of the most impressive displays of exotic insects in North America. His collection now totals more than 7,000 insects ranging from butterflies to beetles to bees, and includes specimens from every continent.

Accessibility at Olbrich's Blooming Butterflies

Wheelchairs and motorized scooters are allowed in the Bolz Conservatory during Olbrich's Blooming Butterflies. For more information about Olbrich's wheelchairs and scooters available for use, please visit the Accessibility Page.

Strollers
For the enjoyment of all visitors, the use of strollers is discouraged inside Olbrich's Blooming Butterflies. Stroller parking is available in the lobby. However, visitors wishing to use their stroller in the Blooming Butterflies exhibit will be allowed to do so.

UPCOMING Events

Winter Concerts
Cocktails in the Conservatory

Children of the Rainforest: Samba 1 Brazilian Dance Group

Children of the Rainforest: Hale O Malo Polynesian Dance Group

Indulgence, Wine & Chocolate Tasting

Bolz Conservatory Exhibit: Treasures of the Rainforest

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is operated as a public-private partnership between the City of Madison Parks Division and the Olbrich Botanical Society.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens | 3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI 53704. | Phone: (608)246-4550 | Fax: (608)246-4719