BIO WORKS BUTTERFLY GARDEN

The BioWorks Butterfly Garden is an engineered ecosystem that emulates how natural wetlands clean water as an alternative to current wastewater treatment techniques. BioWorks houses a free flying butterfly garden that is home to thousands of butterflies each year, an animal husbandry laboratory where guests can watch the butterfly life cycle from egg to adult, extensive outdoor gardens, and two ponds. The BioWorks Butterfly Garden is an outdoor exhibit and is subject to the diverse weather patterns of Florida.

In cases of extreme weather, please expect the garden to be closed for the safety of staff and guests alike. To help showcase what your own backyard butterfly garden could attract, BioWorks does not import butterflies from other countries and instead rears only butterflies native to this area of Florida. Also, butterflies will be more abundant in the warmer months of the year (just like in your own back yard!), with very few flying in the winter.

Questions and Current Garden Happenings
Click here to read our butterfly garden blog and stay current with happenings in the BioWorks Butterfly Garden.

Have a question about butterflies and moths in Florida or about the BioWorks Butterfly Garden? Contact the garden keeper, Kristen Gilpin at kristeng@mosi.org.

Want to learn more about butterfly gardening, or help in BioWorks? Here are some volunteer positions we have available:

BioWorks! Butterfly Garden Volunteer Positions

Volunteer Garden Assistant: (2-5 Positions)

Position Description:
• Garden assistants will be occupied with tasks of grounds keeping, plant maintenance, weeding, potting, watering and some cleaning tasks such as floor sweeping and cleaning of signage. Garden assistants will work mostly outside, including in summer and winter months.

Requirements:
• Garden assistants must be at least 18 years of age. Position requires use of garden tools, bending, some lifting, and good mobility.
• Shifts: Monday through Friday as available.

Volunteer Butterfly Assistant: (2-5 Positions)

Position Description
• Butterfly assistants will be occupied with rearing larvae, pinning chrysalises, lab cleaning, lab maintenance, data recording, and helping to maintain a healthy population of butterflies. Insect collection will require some out-of-doors work especially in summer months to collect butterflies and host plants used within the rearing lab.

Requirements:
• Butterfly assistants must be at least 18 years of age and be willing to directly handle various insects. Position requires some use of garden tools, bending, lifting, and decent mobility. Please note: bleach is used in lab cleaning procedures quite extensively.
• Shifts: Monday through Sunday as available.

Volunteer BioWorks! Presenter: (10-20 Positions)

Position Description
• Presenters will be occupied with answering questions and providing information on garden topics of water conservation, horticulture, and butterflies. Some light cleaning duties such as sweeping floors or wiping tables and signs may be requested during slow periods.

Requirements:
• Presenters should meet minimum age requirements for volunteering at MOSI and be willing to communicate with guests and groups of school children. Presenters will work inside the BioWorks! Butterfly Garden facility, which is a screened enclosure open to the elements.

The garden does close in cases of lightning, thunder, or any severe inclement weather. Shifts: Monday through Sunday as available. Please contact kristeng@mosi.org for more information or with interest concerning these positions.

Want to learn more about water? Take a virtual field trip to the Southwest Florida Water Management District site.

Brought to you by: Southwest Florida Water Management District/Bank of America.