Butterflies have arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History! Oh yes, there is a new permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History called “Butterflies + Plants: Partners in Evolution“.

Sure to be a crowd pleaser, the stars of this exhibit are fluttering around in a new Live Butterfly Pavilion. Home to 400 live butterflies this Pavilion features a warm, tropical climate, bright lighting, and lots of interesting plant life. Visitors will stroll amongst the jasmine, verbena, pentas, lantana, and other plant species while a beautiful and varied collection of butterflies from around the world fly amongst them to entertain and delight.

As enchanting as the Live Pavilion promises to be, the core of the Smithsonian’s butterfly exhibit lies in the education. Exploring the theory of co-evolution, the Butterflies + Plants exhibit includes an Exhibition Hall that explores how organisms interact with each other and how, over time (generations), each species changes because of those interactions.

You may be familiar with Charles Darwin’s prediction that a large moth existed in Madagascar, when he saw the Madagascar star orchid. This flower produces nectar at the base of long, narrow bloom. Darwin’s logic was that only a moth with a very long proboscis could reach the nectar at the bottom of the flower. Sure enough, many years later, the existance of a giant hawk moth species came to light. This is just one example of how plant life adapts to organisms and vice versa - classic co-evolution.

The Exhibition Hall looks at the relationship between butterflies and plants beginning in prehistoric times all the way through to modern day. Museum goers will be treated to an array of pictures, paintings, movies, and timelines that are dedicated to the co-evolution process. Through the Butterflies + Plants exhibit, the Smithsonian is teaching people to appreciate the world’s ecology. The mission is to stop extinction by giving people a new respect for all the life around them.

There is a charge for tickets to the Smithsonian Live Butterfly Pavilion and they can be purchased in advance. Admission to the Exhibition Hall is free. More information on purchasing tickets can be found at the Smithsonian Institution website.

Washington D.C. is a great place for a family vacation. Filled with opportunities to educate children about our wonderful nation - there is no shortage of things to do. Make sure to add a stop at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History to your itinerary. The Butterflies + Plants exhibit is one that you won’t want to miss!

First, let me admit that I am a Honda girl. I LOVE my 6 year old Honda Odyssey and will not part with it until it can go no more. But the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country minivan is quite tempting.

Take a second look at that picture. Do you see what I see? I can hardly believe it. The middle row can swivel and face the back, and there is a little table back there. It’s like a big game room on wheels. And you mean to tell me that I would be stuck in the drivers seat while the kids had all the fun? Us parents spoil them way too much!

I am really not much of a car person but this one - well I am speechless. I had to check out the specs. Some other high end options include Sirius Satellite TV (as if DVD’s or videos were not enough!), a power folding third row (that one I could get used to) and, like, a regular plug (you know, so your kids can plug their Playstation in.) Too much, I tell you.

If you don’t believe me, hop over to Autos.com or CarsDirect and check it out for yourself!