The South Coast Botanic Garden has welcomed back tropical butterflies for the sixth year of “the Soar” exhibit.
Each week from now through September, hundreds of butterflies from Costa Rica and different parts of Central and South America will replenish the butterfly habitat, which also features tropical trees and tropical flora like the pitcher plant.
A major addition this year is a revamped butterfly feeding experience, which includes “lollipops,” said Claire Griswold, the botanical garden’s director of learning and engagement.
“This year, the feeding experience has already been much more of a butterfly magnet, shall we say,” Griswold said. “We’re calling them ‘butterfly lollipops.’ They are sponges, the end of a stick; we soak those in sugar water. Sometimes we’ll use Gatorade if the butterflies need extra electrolytes.
A blue morph butterfly pictured at ‘Soar’ at the South Coast Botanic Garden on May 8, 2026. The tropical butterfly is enjoying the new ‘lollipop’ butterfly feeding experience at the garden that runs through Sept. 30. (Photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
Mexican blue waves butterflies pictured at ‘Soar’ at the South Coast Botanic Garden on May 8, 2026. ‘Soar’ runs through Sept. 30. (Photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
Tropical butterflies pictured at ‘Soar’ at the South Coast Botanic Garden on May 8, 2026. The butterflies are enjoying the new ‘lollipop’ butterfly feeding experience at the garden that runs through Sept. 30. (Photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
Owl butterflies pictured at ‘Soar’ at the South Coast Botanic Garden on May 8, 2026.(Photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
A golden longwing butterfly pictured at ‘Soar’ at the South Coast Botanic Garden on May 8, 2026. ‘Soar’ runs through Sept. 30. (Photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
An owl butterfly pictured at ‘Soar’ at the South Coast Botanic Garden on May 8, 2026. The tropical butterfly is enjoying the new ‘lollipop’ butterfly feeding experience at the garden that runs through Sept. 30. (Photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
A butterfly wings photo op is part of ‘Soar’ at the South Coast Botanic Garden on May 8, 2026. ‘Soar’ runs through Sept. 30. (Photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
‘Soar’ at the South Coast Botanic Garden runs through Sept. 30. (Photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
The owl butterflies are pictured at ‘Soar’ at the South Coast Botanic Garden on May 8, 2026. The tropical butterfly is enjoying the new ‘lollipop’ butterfly feeding experience at the garden that runs through Sept. 30. (Photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
Show Caption
1 of 9
A blue morph butterfly pictured at ‘Soar’ at the South Coast Botanic Garden on May 8, 2026. The tropical butterfly is enjoying the new ‘lollipop’ butterfly feeding experience at the garden that runs through Sept. 30. (Photo by Michael Hixon/SCNG)
Expand
“They hop right on and they’re very active,” Griswold added, “especially the blue morphos seem to really like the feeding experience this year.”
About 320 chrysalises, or butterfly pupas, will arrive every Friday, Griswold said.
“Those 320 chrysalises emerge over two weeks and go straight into the pavilion,” Griswold said. “But that brings us new species every week.”
Smaller butterflies will emerge quicker and some can be seen in the exhibit’s “Emergence Center.”
“Right now, we have on average between 400 and 500 butterflies inside at any given time,” Griswold said. “We are starting to hit that capacity. We got lots of morphos very excited. They’re much happier now that the weather’s warmed up.”
The exhibit will run through Sept. 30, Griswold said, so officials are exploring additional programming as the summer goes on. But they will continue to host the “Butterflies 101” workshop and a “Behind the Wings” tour as well.
For more information about the South Coast Botanic Garden, which is on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, as well as about “Soar” and tickets, visit southcoastbotanicgarden.org.
Comments are closed.