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SALT LAKE CITY — Newly hatched Monarch butterflies will be released at several events around the state this summer, and the public is invited to attend.
Robert Stroud, manager of the butterfly releases, said after growing up in a rural, farming community, he gained an interest in bugs and since then has started doing butterfly releases as a hobby. Stroud said he works with butterfly breeders and farms in the Western U.S. and gets permits to ship the chrysalises to Utah.
The butterfly releases are open to the public and people are invited to bring cameras. Here are the events for 2015:
Millcreek Gardens =================
The first two butterfly releases of the summer will take place at Millcreek Gardens at 3500 S. 900 East in Salt Lake City. Starting Wednesday until June 19, people can visit the exhibit and watch the butterflies hatch from their chrysalises.
“What’s the coolest thing ever is to watch them hatch,” Stroud said. “That’s cool.”
He said the busiest days for hatching will be Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday. Millcreek Gardens is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is closed Sunday.
The releases at the gardens will take place June 19 at 6 p.m. and on June 20 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Robert Stroud
The third release will be held at the Glover Nursery at 9275 S. 1300 West in West Jordan. The butterflies will be released on Father’s Day, June 21, at 2 p.m.
Conservation Garden Park ========================
The next releases will be held at the Conservation Garden Park at 8275 S. 1300 West in West Jordan. The event will open to the public at 4 p.m., and the releases will take place Aug. 15 at 5:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Starting 10 days prior to the release, people can come to the exhibit and see the butterflies hatch, Stroud said. The Conservation Garden Park is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Utah State Fair ===============
The final butterfly release of the summer will be held during the Utah State Fair at the Gazebo Stage at the Utah State Fairpark at 155 N. 1000 West in Salt Lake City. The release will take place Sept. 19 at 2 p.m.
Starting 10 days prior to the release, people can come to the exhibit and see the butterflies hatch.
Stroud recommends arriving two hours early before each butterfly release to ensure getting a seat. He said the releases will be postponed in the event of inclement weather.
