As fall commences, so has Carleton’s annual butterfly show. Every year people from all over Ottawa come out to watch and learn about butterflies, but this year is extra special since it’s the exhibition’s 20th anniversary and a rare agave plant will be in bloom.
Ed Bruggink, the current greenhouse manager, came up with the idea for the show back in 1998 when he visited a similar exhibition in Montreal.
“We could do this [at Carleton], at this facility,” Bruggink said was the initial reasoning for the event. “So in 1999, it happened. We had our first show.”
Bruggink added he “can’t believe that 20 years have already flown by.”
Since the first show, the event has grown in size and variety. This year Bruggink ordered four new shipments of butterflies, so the event now features 1,300 exotic butterflies including 41 different species from around the world.
A rare agave plant that only blooms once was also added to the greenhouse this year to celebrate the event’s 20th anniversary.
“It’s going to start blooming … This happens once in a lifetime of this plant,” said Bruggink. “It’s a big added feature to the show.”
Despite the show’s expansion, Bruggink said keeping the event free of charge is important to him so that more people have the opportunity to access the event.
“It’s important to show off Carleton, who we are to the public,” Bruggink said. “It’s a gift to the community, and that’s why we want to keep it free.”
The timing of the event is ideal, according to Bruggink, because it is close to Thanksgiving.
“A lot of families are coming into town and it’s something for the families to do while the turkey is in the oven, that sort of thing, and it worked really well,” he said. “You will see that the following weekend there are a lot of families showing up.”
Students visiting the show also voiced their opinions of the event.
“I love butterflies,” said Carolina Di Giulio, a first-year Carleton student. “They’re probably one of my favourite insects and I just find them fascinating and beautiful.”
“I think to have a show like this, especially run through the university’s biology department, helps educate visitors on their impact to the ecosystem and the biodiversity that earth has,” Di Giulio added.
Judy Cardo, a frequent visitor of the show, said she thinks the timing of the agave plant’s bloom was meant to be.
“That plant has been there quite a while, so to pick this time of year, I think it’s wondrous really,” Cardo said. “What are the chances that this would be happening?”
Cardo also said she loves visiting because the show is unique.
“This is kind of an opportunity that a lot of people don’t get … to be able to come and see all of these different butterflies in this lovely environment,” she said.
“The whole thing is memorable, there isn’t a moment that isn’t,” Cardo added. “I lose all track of time. I am there, I am taking pictures, I am looking at the plants.”
“There isn’t a square inch in there that isn’t interesting.”
Carleton’s annual butterfly show will run at the Nesbitt Biology building on campus until Oct. 13.
Feature image by Marieta-Rita Osezua.
