It wasn’t all pretty little butterflies at Magic Wings.

 

 

There were also more than enough weirdos to keep a girl happy.

 

 

Like this guy.

And more specifically, this one…..

 

 

Oh, yes I did.

 

 

And he really lived up to his name. When he’s walking up your arm? You can really feel the pricks.

 

 

 

On his legs, people.

His legs.

Moving on with the weird….

Butterflies that look like dead leaves?

 

 

Check.

A Columbian Tegu named Porkchop?

 

 

Check.

There was even a weird and wonderful butterfly nursery.

 

 

With a delightful Silence of the Lambs feel, no?

 

 

 

The flora was as unique as the fauna.

 

 

With some interesting exotic blooms.

 

 

These looked rather Seussian.

 

 

Truffula tree anyone?

But by far, one of the most beautiful creatures was this:

 

 

Emerging from his (her?) cocoon.

 

 

Is that fabulous, or is that fabulous?

 

 

Amen Steven.

 

 

I honestly couldn’t stop staring at it.

 

 

I mean… look at it!

But okay, it was 110 degrees in there… and the husband had been patiently melting into a puddle for the past few hours while I took the required 3,496 photographs, so we starting making our way to the door.

 

 

Totally enamored with this little jewel of a tourist attraction.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s hard to relay how utterly wonderful this little place was. The photos are frozen, and the videos a pale representation.

 

 

It was like an oasis of rain forest….

 

 

Plunked down in the middle of Deerfield, Massachusetts.

 

 

Peaceful…

 

 

Soothing.

 

 

Tranquil.

 

 

But really….

 

 

Surrounded by those delicate creatures…

 

 

Even this fast talking, transplanted Jersey girl slowed down and said…

Ahh.

 

 

The bird agreed.

 

 

I think my blood pressure must have dropped 10 points.

 

 

Give me a book and a glass of iced tea?

 

 

I could have stayed there all day.

 

Magic Wings is aptly named.

 

 

It’s a large greenhouse like building with meandering paths filled with tropical foliage, blooms, birds and…..

 

 

Butterflies!

 

 

Everywhere you look…

 

 

There were bright bursts of color flitting from leaf to leaf…

 

 

And hat to hat.

 

 

The husband was popular among the winged set at first…

 

 

But I had my admirers as well.

 

 

It really was quite magical.

 

 

 

As a matter of fact, I am.

 

 

There were brightly colored birds…

 

 

And brightly colored feeding stations.

 

 

Sugared water in a dish scrubber? Might be worth trying at home.

 

 

It wasn’t easy photographing them as they’re constantly on the move.

 

 

And even more impossible to film them flying by.

 

But rotting bananas seemed to be a good pit stop.

 

 

This blue fellow was terribly hard to catch standing still.

 

 

While these two were battling tooth and nail for the right to that impatient bloom.

 

 

You had to be careful where you walked, and sat….

 

 

Since butterflies expend an enormous amount of energy flying from flower to flower, they sometimes run out of oomph and simply drop to the floor in front of you.

And sometimes, if you were lucky…

 

 

You captured a little butterfly porn.

 

 

 

It was lovely.

 

 

And if you’re asking the question, “Have you petted your fringed lizard today?”

 

 

Why yes….

 

 

Yes, I have.

Her name was Samantha, and she was a very sweet girl.

Don’t judge.

Reptiles need love too….