Invasion of the Butterflies

One of the places on my list to visit while down the Niagara way this summer was the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls. I loved the idea of walking through a simulated jungle with hundreds of the colourful, winged creatures fluttering around me. I imagined myself in a state of serenity amidst huge, bright green leaves, arms outstretched like Julie Andrews a la The Sound of Music - my mouth so wide open with awe that the likelihood of one of the insects flying into it would be quite high - the scene culminating with dozens settling upon me, like the forest animals with Snow White (or Ace Ventura, a much less appealing visual).

The reality? A crowd of competing tourist-photographers trying to get my shot (the swines!) and the butterflies fluttering in such an erratic manner (as they tend to do) that following their flight with the camera lens is frustrating and hopeless. To be fair, at busy times (when I foolishly arrived) they only allow a limited number of people entrance to the conservatory, although you can stay as long as you want once in.

But first, you see a third party-produced short film about butterflies and the protocol around the care and breeding of them, which logically warns against the purchase of specimens encased in glass and framed, suitable for a creepy display in your home. Oddly, what did I see when I exited the conservatory - the path of which leads you right into the gift shop which you have no choice but to walk through to leave the building -  but butterflies encased in glass and framed for a creepy display in your home! And some were just huge, which made it seem more wrong somehow. I discussed the irony with an American tourist who was also confused by the mixed messages. The truly sad thing was that some were going for $125 and would likely just sit on that shelf indefinitely anyway, creeping people out day after day and likely serving as a morbid fascination for children (I was entranced when I saw some on display at the local library at age seven, probably because they had pins in them yet they looked so beautiful. How weird!).

The upside was that a butterfly had latched onto the strap of my camera case (don't laugh! Yes, I was 'wearing' the case on my shoulder, tourist-style, as it wouldn't fit in my baguette which admittedly was a poor choice of handbag for the outing). It was the kind pictured in the first photo which is vibrant shades of blue on the inside and and browns on the outside of the wings (see right), and it would not detach despite my attempts to release it (gently, of course). So, after 20 minutes of tagging along, I concluded I'd made a friend. (At least a dozen people took pictures, amazed at its stubbornness, laziness or coolness, depending on your view. I say he was cool. Or asleep.)