An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and a bumblebee were found sharing space on a milkweed plant at Van Buren State Park over the weekend.
Both pollinators, butterflies and bees are often drawn to brightly colored flowers, as well as open or flat tubular blooms with an abundance of pollen or nectar.
Butterflies
(Courtesy, Cris Greer WKTV)
Butterflies typically probe for nectar, which is their flight fuel. Clusters of flowers that provide a stable landing platform and nectar deeply hidden inside the blooms are most popular.
Flowers containing nectar guides that help the bees find the flower’s center quickly are also a favorite – and facilitate rapid nectar collection and flower pollination.
Though an adequate pollinator, butterflies are not quite as efficient as its bumblebee partner due to their long, thin legs creating a higher perch on the flower. The thin legs and higher perch prevent as much pollen from sticking to the body of the butterfly versus that of the bumblebee.
Bumblebees
(Courtesy, Cris Greer WKTV)
Fat and furry, bumblebees are slightly smaller than similar-looking carpenter bees. The hairs on their legs and body, called setae, help the bumblebee collect pollen and nectar.
Bumblebees are drawn to flowers in the ultraviolet color range, though they cannot see red like butterflies can. Fragrant flowers are particularly appealing to bees.
Like butterflies, bees are also attracted to clusters of flat or tubular flowers that provide a landing pad and a wealth of pollen and nectar.
Butterflies are back in the Top 5, and so is baseball, classical music and those who like to dress up.
Enjoy the spring-like weather on the horizon. It’s time for my weekly list of things to do, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.
Here it is!
Chamber Orchestra of Grand Rapids performs at The Stray. (pxhere.com)
5. Classical Music at The Stray
Can’t wait for the next WKTV Voices Storyteller’s event at The Stray (7 p.m. April 15)? Well, it’s not quite a story, but another great opportunity to check out the local coffeehouse/event space. Come see members of the Chamber Orchestra of Grand Rapids perform 17th and 18th century works in smaller groups. The show is at 7 p.m. Saturday (April 9). Admission is free, but a $10 donation is suggested. More info on the event Facebook page.
Butterflies and flowers will be on display at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)
4. Morning With The Butterflies Family Party
Didn’t get a chance to do something fun for Spring Break? The Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition at Meijer Gardens remains open through April 30, with extended hours until 9 p.m. through Friday (April 8). Looking for a party with snacks and activities? One is planned for members on Sunday (April 10). This is a good time to consider a membership for special perks like this. (We love ours in the Gonzalez household).
An array of gems and minerals will be on display at this year’s Gem & Mineral Show at Rogers Plaza. (WKTV)
3. 45th Annual Gem & Mineral Show
Another fun activity for the family is checking out the popular Gem & Mineral Show this weekend at Rogers Plaza. It features treasures for everyone from beginners to seasoned collectors where you will find minerals, fossils, crystals, gems, jewelry, beads, stone carvings, equipment, books, and more. Nearly 30 vendors, club dealers and artisans will be on hand. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday (April 7-8), and from 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday (April 9). More info on the event Facebook page. Admission is free.
The Grand Rapids Valley Railroad Train Shows offer fun for kids of any age.
2. Greater Grand Rapids Train Show
It’s back for another show from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday (April 9) at the Home School Building in Wyoming. The show features more than 200 vendor tables, offering what organizers said is “everything imaginable for even the most discerning model railroader.” In addition, they will have model railroad layouts in different scales and sizes with accurately detailed engines and cars running down their tracks. There’s even a Lego play area for kids. Cost is $5 for adults and free for those 12 and younger. It is presented by the Grand River Valley Railroad Club. More info at grvrrc.org.
1. Grand Rapids Comic-Con
Another sure sign of spring is Comic-Con! Who wants to wear a coat over a Power Rangers costume? This weekend you can experience seminars, panels, vendors, comic books and more. The event runs Friday-Sunday (April 8-10) at the DeltaPlex Arena. Hours are noon-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20 per day. Parking is $10 cash only. For more details on cosplay guidelines and more info, go to grcomiccon.com.
The West Michigan Whitecaps’ home opener is April 12. (WM Whitecaps)
Baseball
As for baseball, the Detroit Tigers are back in action for a new season beginning April 8 at Comerica Park against the White Sox. And our West Michigan Whitecaps open the season on April 8 in Midland, but return to LMCU Ballpark for the home opener on Tuesday, April 12. More info at whitecapsbaseball.com.
That’s it for now.
As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Have a great, safe weekend.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
From butterflies to an Irish jig, we’re ready for the weekend!
My Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal, also includes comedy, one of Christian music’s most successful acts and a show primarily for women.
What are you going to do?
Gonzo’s Top 5
Casting Crowns first performed at Van Andel Arena in 2005 and last graced the stage locally in 2019. The band returns on The Healer Tour on Saturday, March 19th along with special guests We Are Messengers and Jonathan Traylor. (Photo by Jim Hill)
5. Casting Crowns
As part of their “The Healer Tour,” award-winning Contemporary Christian Music act Casting Crowns makes a stop this weekend at Van Andel Arena. The show is at 7 p.m. Saturday (March 19) with special guests We Are Messengers and Jonathan Traylor. Known for multiple hit songs and albums, the group has been a staple on the charts since 2003 when its self-titled album became an instant hit and sold nearly 2 million copies. The band also has been honored with four American Music Awards, a GRAMMY Award for their 2005 album “Lifesong,” and eight additional GRAMMY Award nominations. In addition, the group has garnered 18 GMA Dove Awards. Ticket information at vanandelarena.com. Learn more about the band at castingcrowns.com.
The West Michigan Women’s Expo takes place this weekend. (Facebook)
4. West Michigan Women’s Expo
The Women’s Expo is a great opportunity to get out of the house with friends and explore a variety of exhibits, seminars and shopping, all tailored to women and their families. Attendees will enjoy interactive activities, pampering, food tastings and even a Great Lakes Writers book and author area. Also, see my friend Jackie Blankenship, who recently was named Mrs. America 2022, as she shares her story about “Confidence and a Belief of Purpose.” She speaks at 1 p.m. Saturday. Show hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at DeVos Place. Learn more at kohlerexpo.com/wm-womens-exp.
3. 38th Annual Spectrum Health Irish Jig
One of the biggest events in the running community is the Spectrum Health Irish Jig, which kicks off the summer season. Even if you have not trained much this winter, you can still get out for an easy run or walk. The race begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at East Grand Rapids High School. Learn more at spectrumhealth.org/irish-jig.
Butterflies and flowers will be on display at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)
2. Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies are Blooming
One of my favorite events in Grand Rapids opened a couple weeks ago – the annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition at Meijer Gardens. It is the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the nation. The kids will love watching tropical butterflies from around the world fly freely in the balmy Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. Throughout the exhibition, guests can experience special educational programming and butterfly-themed activities. It is open through April 30. It’s never too early to start planning a trip or Spring Break outing. More info at meijergardens.org/calendar/butterflies-are-blooming/.
Pop Scholars get their LaughFest on along with everyone else. (Facebook)
1.Laughfest GR
This awesome, six-day community event built on the love of laughter, continues this weekend with a jam-packed lineup throughout venues in Grand Rapids. The annual benefit for Gilda’s House Grand Rapids, the non-profit to support the free cancer and grief emotional health programs founded by Gilda Radner, features some of the top local, regional and national acts. I’ll be at tonight’s sold out trivia show at Golden Age inside Creston Brewery. But tickets remain for Tone Bell, Maria Bamford, improv shows, the All Y’all Comedy Showcase and more. Shows continue through Sunday. More details at www.laughfestgr.org.
That’s it for now.
As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
Have a great, safe weekend.
John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.
An Emerald Swallowtail is just one of the many butterflies visitors will see at this year’s “Butterflies are Blooming.” (Supplied)
Bold butterflies are flying in for Spring! The Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park’s annual Fred and Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition is back.
Beginning March 1 through April 30 thousands of butterflies will be taking over the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. The 15,000 square-foot conservatory is set at 85 degrees with 70 percent humidity. New this year is the kokedama arch that is filled with colorful penta, lantana, bromeliads, and orchids. During the exhibition, several flowers will be blooming including orange plume, blue porter weed, jatropha, queen’s wreath, and bleeding heart vines.
This year’s exhibition highlights the power of flowers and the positive and powerful impact flowers have on butterflies, people, and the world.
“Our goal is to bring an awareness of the important relationships butterflies and humans have with flowers, and to show the positive and powerful impact flowers have on butterflies, people, and the world,” said Steve LaWarre, Vice President of Horticulture.
More than 60 species of butterflies reside in the warm, lush environment of the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. These creatures come from butterfly-rich regions around the world including parts of Asia, Africa, and Central & South America. Every week an average of 1,000 pupae arrive at the gardens and guests can view the new arrivals at the observation station. At this station, the conservatory staff collects and releases adult butterflies throughout the day.
The Caterpillar Room, in the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse, features monarch caterpillars. The greenhouse is filled with milkweed host plants for the hungry caterpillars to feed on.
At the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden, young guests can participate in outdoor activities. The children’s garden has unique educational activities for all ages to enjoy. In the Log Cabin guests can perform their own butterfly-themed puppet shows or read about moths and butterflies. The garden features a special Treehouse Village hunt, a Butterfly Maze, and the Monarch’s Migration game. Check the Children’s Garden Information Center for activities and times, which vary daily.
Through the exhibition, the gardens will be putting on several special events and recurring activities including:
The Lena Conservatory will be filled with an array of different butterflies from March 1 to April 31. (Supplied)
Outdoor Children’s Activities
March 1 – Friday, April 30, daylight hours only
Lena Meijer Children’s Garden
Included with admission
Tuesday Night Lights
Included with admission
Bring your flashlight on Tuesday nights until 9 p.m. to search for butterflies and see the nightlife in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory.
SMART Gardening to Support Monarchs (Lecture)
March 13, 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Included with admission
Dr. Erwin “Duke” Elsner Extension Educator, Michigan State University, will explore simple ways landowners and gardeners can support monarch butterfly populations in their own backyards. During his presentation he will highlight simple ways to create a significant “green space” in urban and residential areas.
Flower House Detroit (Lecture)
March 27, 2 p.m.
Included with admission
Lisa Waud, Botanical Artist, Flower House Detroit
In October 2015, 37 floral designers and more than 100 volunteers from across North America came together to fill an abandoned Detroit house with American-grown fresh flowers and living plants. In this lecture, botanical installation artist, Lisa Waud will be presenting virtually to the audience at Meijer Gardens. She will be sharing her project from idea to exploration along with her thoughts on beauty, blight, and nostalgia, and the themes of risk-taking, logistics, and collaboration through the lens of the large-scale installation.
Flower Power Exploration Stations
April 24, 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Included with admission
Learn about flowers and butterflies during a self guided drop-in program. Guests can use microscopes and IPads as they explore the connection between flowers and butterflies.
Night With The Butterflies – Family Parties
March 14, March 20, April 18, 6 – 8 p.m.
This party will include entertainment, an art activity, and a light snack.
The gardens request that all visitors wear a face mask in indoor public settings regardless of their vaccination status. During the exhibition, tripods are not allowed in the conservatory and monopods may only be used with courtesy around other guests. No butterfly or plant materials can be removed from the conservatory and guests are not permitted to touch the butterflies.
The exhibit runs through April 30. Members can attend the exhibit for free, while students and children receive a discount. For more details about the butterfly exhibition, visit www.meijergardens.org
From mid-August through September, Peninsula Point in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is known for “monarch madness.”
Monarch butterflies use Peninsula Point in the Hiawatha National Forest as a staging area before crossing Lake Michigan on route to Mexico. (Department of Natural Resources)
That’s when huge numbers of the distinctive orange butterfly migrate from Minnesota, Wisconsin and the U.P. south to Mexico, a 1,900-mile journey for an insect with a wingspan of less than 4 inches.
Waves of monarchs use Peninsula Point as a staging area before attempting the long open water crossing of Lake Michigan. At the peak of the migration in early September a decade ago, you could witness 3,000 or more monarchs fluttering in a handful of trees at this Hiawatha National Forest day-use area at the end of Stonington Peninsula.
Since then, climate change and deforestation of the insect’s mountainous winter habitat in central Mexico has greatly harmed the monarch population. It’s estimated that the Eastern species has declined by more than 80% since the 1980s, but it’s still an amazing migration. And it’s best seen today in Michigan at Peninsula Point.
Can’t make it for the monarch madness? Come whenever you can.
The brick lighthouse at Peninsula Point is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Department of Natural Resources)
This small spit of land is loaded with history, excellent birding opportunities and a lighthouse that visitors can climb for a watery panoramic of Lake Michigan.
The centerpiece of the day-use area is Peninsula Point Lighthouse.
Congress authorized its construction in 1864 because wooden sailing ships, hauling lumber, iron ore and fish from Escanaba, Gladstone and Fayette, were no match for the treacherous shoals that separate Big Bay de Noc from Little Bay de Noc.
The structure was built in 1865 and consisted of a 40-foot tower, lit by an oil lamp and reflectors, and an adjoining home for the lightkeeper and family.
The light went out for the last time in 1936, but the view from the point was so spectacular that the U.S. Forest Service converted it into a public picnic area in 1937. The lightkeeper’s house burned to the ground in 1959, but the brick tower survived and today is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Peninsula Point is also an important migration stopover for birds traveling up the Lake Michigan shore. Spring migrations can be exceptional, a time when birders can sight more than 200 species.
Much of the point is forested, and winding through the trees or skirting the shoreline is an interpretive trail and a rugged single-lane dirt road. The two can be combined for a scenic hike, a 2.2-mile loop from the RV parking area at the end of the pavement to the picnic grounds that surrounded the lighthouse. In addition, the nearby Maywood History Trail features an old growth hemlock forest on the west shore of Stonington Peninsula.
Jim DuFresne of MichiganTrailMaps.com is a Michigan State University journalism alumnus.
“There are thousands of butterflies from all around the world flying right here in Grand Rapids,” said Horticulturalist Laurel Gaut.
The theme of the 2021 butterfly exhibition is “Into the Glass House.” A glass container known as a Wardian case provides the viewer with a close up look at specimens. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Visitors tour through the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, a 15,000-square-foot space filled with tropical plants, vibrant foliage, and a balmy atmosphere.
More than 60 species of butterflies reside within the space. More than 1,000 pupae are shipped to the Meijer Gardens weekly from as far away as Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Philippines, and Kenya.
The theme of the 2021 butterfly exhibition is “Into the Glass House.” A glass container known as a Wardian case provides the viewer with a close up look at specimens.
The exhibit runs through April 30. Members can attend the exhibit for free, while students and children receive a discount. For more information about the butterfly exhibition, visit www.meijergardens.org
“I don’t really go out partying, but I’m definitely a social butterfly.”
~ Eliza Doolittle
Well, hello, gorgeous!
Excuse us? We’re dressing!
The fluttering you hear at Meijer Gardens this time of year? It isn’t your heart beating with excitement — it’s the butterflies! There’s still time to get a good dose of gorgeous — the winged ones are on display until April 30 during the 24th Annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition. More here.
They call me MISTER Robot
Big things have small beginnings
Hope you’ve cleared your calendar for this weekend. About 40 teams will compete at the FIRST Robotics event this Friday and Saturday. This includes host team East Kentwood’s Red Storm, Wyoming High School’s Demons, Potter House’s Tactical Hams, and the community team Code Red the Stray Dogs. Fun stuff! Go here for further details.
Ready for Act II
And so begins a new chapter in Gina Mancha’s life
Gina Mancha was displaced from a long career in automotive manufacturing and needed to find a new career. As a dislocated worker, Gina was eligible for services through Michigan Works!. Read her success story here.
Fun fact:
Goblin sharks might be the closest we’ll ever get to a real alien
Getting up close and personal with the butterflies at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is Charlotte Chase from Shelbyville. (Meochia Nochi Thompson)
By Meochia Nochi Thompson WKTV Community Contributor
The fluttering you hear at Meijer Gardens this time of year isn’t your heart beating with excitement. It is the butterflies! They were on full display since March 1 and will stay until April 30 during the 24th Annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition. Seven thousand tropical butterflies and fifty different species from all over the world are featured. It is the largest, temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the nation. Also, there is a new and improved Observation Station which allows visitors to see the butterflies arise from their chrysalides and cocoons before being released into the conservatory.
The butterflies roam freely amongst visitors intrigued by their bright colors, size variations and beautiful patterns unique to each kind. They all seem to have their own personalities and appear just as excited to see their visitors, including one that landed on the ground to apparently, show off. It appeared injured as it stood in the middle of the crowd but after Charlotte Chase, age 6, looked closer, she knew better. The butterfly, peacefully, climbed onto one of her welcoming finger, flapped its wings for a bit and flew away. Then, it came back again and playfully landed on another visitor. Charlotte and her father Randall came all the way from Shelbyville to see the butterflies, and this time, their little family tradition really proved worth it.
Charlotte Chase of Shelbyville makes a new friend at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. (Meochia Nochi Thompson_
“We have come to the Gardens every year since my daughter was a little girl around one or two years old,” said Randall Chase. “We make it a habit as a part of our daddy daughter bonding time. We check out the butterflies, take a bunch of pictures and keep a bunch of memories.”
If you plan on visiting the butterflies, remember to wear bright colors to attract them. Also, dress light because the exhibit is 85 degrees with a humidity at 70 percent.
There is plenty of educational programing about the butterflies throughout Meijer Gardens including butterfly-themed activities in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden. Don’t miss your chance to see the butterflies. Meijer Garden will stay open late during Spring Break, Monday, April 1 to Friday, April 5, 9 a.m. -9 p.m.
For more on the Butterflies Are Blooming or the Fredreik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, visit meijergardens.org.
For Laurel Scholten her favorite part of seeing the butterflies is watching them emerge from their chrysalis.
“If it goes just perfectly, they will slide right out and then there they are,” said Scholten, who this year is overseeing the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies are Blooming exhibition, which officially opens March 1.
In its 21st year, the exhibition will feature about 60 different species flying freely in the Gardens’ Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. The balmy environment, which is 85 degrees and 70 percent humidity, is a perfect setting for the butterflies, according to Scholten.
“They tend to emerge more in the morning and especially when it is bright and sunny,” Scholten said. “This is because it signals to them that they are going to have better conditions to survive in.”
Approximately 7,000 – 8,000 butterflies will be released in the conservatory during the two-month exhibit with anywhere from 500 to 800 in the conservatory on any given day. The life cycle of a butterfly is about two to three weeks.
The Butterflies are Blooming remains one of the Gardens largest exhibitions with more than 150,000 visitors expected to come through, said the Gardens Public Relations Manager Andrea Wolschleger
“I think it is because of the timing,” Wolschleger said. “It’s a warm, sunny exhibition, a good reason to escape the cold and it signals spring.
“Also, I think it appeals to just about anyone. Whether you are 5-years-old or 55-years-old, you can appreciate it.”
A “Crocodile” by Mimmo Paladino is on display in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory.
New this year is the addition of more than 900 nectar plants that will add vivid blooms along with providing nectar for the butterflies. Also make sure to explore the conservatory for two crocodiles sculptures that have “wandered” over from the “Mimmo Paladino: Present Into Past” exhibition that opens Friday, Feb. 26, in the Gardens’ gallery space. The exhibition will feature iconic sculptures from across the artist’s repertoire and new, never before seen work.
“The butterflies really educate people on a variety of topics,” Scholten said, such as pollution since butterflies are the first to be impacted by pollutes. The exhibit also showcases the life span of the butterflies emerge from chrysalides and cocoons in the Butterfly Bungalow, spread their wings for the first time, and are released into the conservatory. Also there is a Caterpillar Room located within The Seasonal Display Greenhouse featuring Monarch caterpillars.
“In fact, one of the number one questions I have is when are the butterflies going to be released,” Scholten said, adding that a sign will be on the Butterfly Bungalow with release times.
A butterfly spreads its wings in Butterfly Bungalow.
The Gardens also hosts a number of family events in conjunction with the exhibit. Various Children’s Activities take place daily during daylight hours in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden, Tuesday Night Lights allow visitors to bring flashlights until 9 p.m to see the nightlife in the conservatory, and “Who am I” A Butterfly Ballet, presented by the Grand Rapids Ballet, is March 12 and 19 at 12:30 p.m. Tickets for the ballet are $5/members, $8/non-members, and free/children 2 and under.
Butterflies are Blooming will be up through April 31. The “Mimmo Paladino: Present Into Past” runs through Aug. 14. For more information on either exhibit or on the Meijer Gardens, visit the Gardens’ website or call 616-957-1580.
