Garden Fest 2011
Celebrating the American Garden Experience
May 7th 2011, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
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The idea for Garden Fest was sown in 2006 and has grown into an annual all day family-friendly event presented by the Smithsonian Gardens (SG). The purpose of Garden Fest is to highlight each of the Smithsonian gardens and connect people to plants through educational demonstrations and engaging hands-on activities. Garden Fest takes place each year in the Enid A. Haupt Garden during spring.

Butterflies + Plants: Partners in Evolution
This exhibit, located at the National Museum of Natural History, features an interior Butterfly Pavilion. The Pavilion showcases multiple species of tropical butterflies as well as over 250 nectar and pollen producing plants in an enclosed climate-controlled setting.

The Smithsonian Gardens supplies and cares for the plants exhibited in the 500 square feet of planting display space and assures that they are grown in a pesticide-free environment. Over 100 plants are rotated into the Pavilion several times a week in order to provide a constant source of fresh nectar and pollen for the butterflies. When necessary, spent plants are disposed of in accordance with USDA requirements.

The varieties of flowering plants highlighted in the Butterfly Pavilion will change throughout the year depending on seasonal availability.

To learn more about other Smithsonian events, visit the Smithsonian Events Calendar.

Postcard Greetings from the Archives of American Gardens, ca. 1905-1945
View a selection of postcards from the Archives of American Gardens' Historic Postcard Collection based on the outdoor exhibit developed by a team of Smithsonian Gardens staff.