Butterflies … It’s Spring at Springs Preserve

Julias seemed to be the most abundant and active butterflies currently in residence.

If you think that Las Vegas is nothing more than the Strip and casinos, you’re really missing out on something wonderful right in the middle of the city … Springs Preserve. From the moment we spot all the critters peeking over the wall along US-95, we’re always psyched for the visit. There’s so much to see and do and it seems we discover more and more each time we’re there. This time it was butterflies!

Spicewing swallowtail

The butterfly pavilion is only open seasonally in spring and autumn … too hot in the summer; too cold in the winter. It opened last weekend and will remain open through the end of May. It’s not a huge pavilion as butterfly houses go, but the butterflies were plentiful, colorful and … very fluttery. No matter how many times we visit butterfly houses, I get the same light-hearted feeling. Butterflies are good for the spirit, I think, and they certainly signal Spring.

Blue morphos are brilliant, but it's hard to catch them with their wings open.

We almost stepped on this malachite who decided to rest on the ground just in front of us.

Painted lady

I’m currently in the process of identifying native desert plants that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to our backyard. I’ll let you know how I make out.