Butterflies and screaming children…oh my.

Rob and I visited Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum this past weekend. It was a sunny but chilly day so we thought it was a good time to check out a museum we haven’t been to. Really, this museum is not for the faint of heart. It is crawling…with children! I like kids, really I do but when there are hundreds of them screaming and yelling and throwing their milk carton thingies at me I tend to lose patience (and some of my hearing). A lot of the museum is geared towards children but there were a couple things Rob and I wanted to see. There is an interesting exhibition of lost panoramas that documented the reversal of the Chicago River back in the late 1800’s. A seemingly impossible feat! It was an interesting exhibition but rather small. I wish there would have been more panoramas.

The most fascinating exhibition was the Butterfly Haven. You’re in a jungle-like room (a very hot room) with butterflies flying all around you. It’s amazing seeing so many in one place. And they are beautiful. I was able to snap a few up-close pictures:

Pssst....these two were mating. I gave them privacy after I took this....

As we were looking around we spotted this really pretty bird right above our heads. I have no idea what kind of bird it was but I'm glad it stayed still long enough for me to snap a picture.

 chirp chirp

I also loved this sculpture outside the museum. It's called Steelroots.

So aside from the screaming kids it was a fun museum trip. I got some great pictures and had a lovely afternoon with Rob so I'd say it was a pretty successful outing. All the bright colors of the butterflies inspired me. I think I should bake something colorful. :)