Enjoy a Visit to the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion in Phoenix, Arizona

The Marshall Butterfly Pavilion located inside the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, is a seasonal exhibit that is worth taking the time and the planning to attend. You will be amazed at the beauty and thrill of hundreds of butterflies all around you and if you are patient and hold still long enough you may even have one land on your head!

My Experience at the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion

My family and I visited the unique spring butterfly exhibit this May, only one week before it closed for the summer. I am so glad that we were able to experience the joy and pleasure of the spring butterfly exhibit in the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion before it closed for the summer. The Marshall Butterfly Pavilion will reopen in the fall for the Monarch Butterfly exhibit.

Upon entering the Quonset styled screened building we were greeted by a cool mist. The temperature inside is monitored to meet the needs of the butterflies and it was a nice respite from the heat outside of the pavilion for us humans as well.

Part of our visit inside the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion included our questions about the butterflies fully answered by friendly and knowledgeable staff. A few interesting facts I learned were the butterflies are shipped to Phoenix from a butterfly farm in Florida and many of the species on exhibit are not native to Arizona. Because the Desert Botanical Garden does not have a license to raise butterflies, plants that promote the laying of eggs are not allowed inside the pavilion. The staff also monitors how many people are allowed inside the pavilion at any given time so that it does not become over crowded.

We were able to spend over a half an hour inside the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion which gave us plenty of time to watch the butterflies as they flitted from flower to flower or take a drink of water from one of the little pools. We also took many splendid photos of the beautiful winged creatures and I even had one land on my head! I remember looking around at the children and every one of them had big smiles on their faces. I have never experienced anything like the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion before and highly recommend a visit to this spectacular exhibit as soon as you can make plans to do so, you will not be disappointed.

Important Information about the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion

Location:

Inside the Desert Botanical Garden

1201 N. Galvin Parkway

Phoenix, Arizona 85008

Phone: 480-941-1225

Web:www.dbg.org

Seasonal Operation Hours:

Spring Exhibit typically runs from the first of March until the first of May

Fall Exhibit (Monarch Butterflies) typically runs from the end of September through the first of November.

You will need to check back to the Desert Botanical Garden website for exact dates as they near. Once the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion exhibit is open the normal operating hours are 9:30am - 5:00pm.

Admission:

Desert Botanical Garden Admission Fees:

Garden Members are admitted free
Adults: $15.00
Seniors: $13.50 (60 years and older)
Students (13-18 and college with ID): $7.50
Children (3-12): $5.00
Children under 3 are admitted free

Marshall Butterfly Pavilion Admission Fees:

Additional Ticket required
Members: Free
General Public: $3.50 with paid Garden admission

Shopping:

The Garden Shop offers unique gifts and plants as well as books and other items for sale. The Garden Shop is located inside the Desert Botanical Garden and the operating hours are 9:00am - 5:00pm, 7 days a week.

Tips:

When visiting the Desert Botanical Garden and the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion remember to wear good walking shoes, and have plenty of drinking water. Sun block, sunglasses and light weight clothing is also important. Don't forget your camera! The photo opportunities are endless!

Sources:
My own experience
www.dbg.org