Press Release
Fla. Museum opens new permanent outdoor wildflower, butterfly garden and indoor exhibit
For Immediate Release Oct. 11, 2006
Contact:
Paul Ramey, APR
Assistant Director, Marketing and Public Relations
Florida Museum of Natural History
(352) 846-2000, ext. 218, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu
Writer: Stacy Acquista
PHOTOS AVAILABLE
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- The Florida Museum of Natural History will open and dedicate its new Florida Wildflower and Butterfly Garden at 11 a.m. Saturday during the inaugural Florida Butterfly Festival.
The Florida Museum also will display a new indoor exhibit case that complements the outdoor garden with small dioramas illustrating and explaining the life-cycle relationships between wildflowers and butterflies. The permanent exhibit and garden were made possible by a $94,409 grant from the Florida Wildflower Advisory Council and the Florida Wildflower Foundation Inc.
The dedication will include a ceremonial planting of Coreopsis, the state's official wildflower.
The Florida Butterfly Festival is headquartered at the University of Florida Cultural Plaza from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and includes free family activities in addition to free- and fee-based lectures and field trips. Paid workshops include butterfly photography, gardening and specimen preparation. To learn more about the festival visit http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflyfest/ or call (352) 846-2000, ext. 200.
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The Florida Museum of Natural History is Florida's state natural history museum, dedicated to understanding, preserving and interpreting biological diversity and cultural heritage. It is located near the intersection of Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road in the University of Florida Cultural Plaza in Gainesville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Butterfly Rainforest admission is $8.50 for adults ($7.50 Fla. residents) and $4.50 for children ages 3-12. Prices subject to change. For more information, including directions and parking, call (352) 846-2000, or visit, www.flmnh.ufl.edu.