Callaway Gardens Butterfly House

Joyce and I were able to go down to Callaway Gardens on Thursday. It is located near Pine Mountain and Warm Springs (where FDR had his little White House), just northeast of Columbus, GA. I visit the gardens each November and had been there twice in the spring, but it had been several years. I liked it so much on this visit, that I bought an annual pass, so expect more visits there. Joyce and I had a lovely day and shared many memories from last year's Thelma and Louise trip to the Rockies.

One of my favorite attractions at Callaway is the butterfly house. Whereas the on at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens does not have butterflies year round, the one at Callaway does.

One of my favorite butterflies that always are represented there is the blue morph. On the outside of their wings, they are brown with very pretty markings. When they fly or open their wings quickly while feeding, the most gorgeous blue lights up. It almost looks neon and is such a contrast to the outside of their wings. Below is one having breakfast. Morning is the best time to go to a butterfly house as the butterflies seem more active. They love to be in sunny areas. You also have a better chance to beat the tour groups and school buses (not a good sight to a photographer when you pull up and see those in the parking lot!)

So many beautiful butterflies to see! Then there were a lot of them emerging into their short lives.

The tulips in the gardens were so pretty, the azaleas were just beginning to open and the flame azaleas were beautiful. Many more photos to come.

Winter had come to the gardens

It was quite chilly when we rode the open trolley Thursday night at Fantasy of Lights at Callaway, but it was really cold Friday morning! It was in the thirties (hey, that is cold down here in the south!) so I decided to go to the two spots that I knew would be warm at the Gardenss, the butterfly house and the horticultural center. Butterflies and plants have to be kept warm!

I wish I had wonderful photos of the seasonal light theme, but that is very difficult to photograph. I will look to see if I have any from previous years. I didn't even try to take any photos Thursday night. A camera is hard to operate when you are wearing gloves!

The pretty fall leaves were long gone, so there was no need to go looking for them. I did learn that there is a covered bridge in the area that I will have to check out the next time I am over there. Callaway Gardens is located in West Georgia, near Columbus, GA. F.D. Roosevelt had his "Little White House" in Warm Springs, in the next county over from Harris County.

The Day Butterfly House is named after the man who began "Days Inn" motels. That is the family that donated the money to build the butterfly house.

You come inside and there are butterflies fluttering everywhere. There are beautiful flowers, little ponds, fish and sometimes tropical birds.

I also visited the John Sibley Horticultural Center. I have always loved this swan statue. Today, there was another guest there, trying to figure out if those birds are real or not (he was real!).

This time of year, they do a poinsettia tree and have poinsettias everywhere inside. It is very lovely.

This morning it is 22 degrees here....Baby, it's cold outside. That song is on my new Christmas CD, "Now that is what I call Christmas", a great combination of classic Christmas music. Hope everyone is staying warm!