Woodland Park Zoo’s Delightful Butterfly Garden Is Open for the Season

You know summer is on its way when the seasonal Molbak’s Butterfly Garden opens at Seattle’s beloved Woodland Park Zoo. Beginning May 27 and continuing through Sept. 5, zoo visitors can once again experience the thrill of hundreds of free-flying butterflies surrounding them.

Many cultures believe butterflies are symbols of hope and endurance. Having one land on you may be a sign of good luck! Could you find a more perfect metaphor for emerging from the cocoon of two summers of pandemic-driven closures?

During our early-season visit, many of the butterflies were still freshly hatched and lingered on the flowering bushes drying their wings. It gave us a unique opportunity to observe them quietly and try to identify some of the 15 species currently on view.

Here are our top tips to make your butterfly garden visit a delight: 

• Make walking softly a zoo-themed game — can you float like a butterfly or shuffle like a penguin? Since butterflies can land on any surface (including you!), it’s important to watch your step.
• Stop in at the beginning of your zoo visit. My kids have their best listening ears before they get hangry and tired, so we prioritize special experiences like the butterfly garden when they’re most likely to enjoy them. 
• Download the zoo’s butterfly and plant guide in advance. Butterflies come in a rainbow of colors and it’s fun to see if you can tell them apart. 
• Avoid stowaways. Hold out your arms like butterfly’s wings for a brief inspection before you depart so that the butterflies remain inside their 3,000-square-foot enclosure. 
• Enjoy the pollinator garden. Behind the greenhouse is a year-round garden full of fragrant flowers that attract all kinds of pollinators, including hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, of course. There’s space to roam and you might even get ideas for the perfect addition to your home garden. 

More summer zoo fun

After your visit with the butterflies, there are plenty of other seasonal activities on offer starting in May and through the summer. 

• Giraffe feedings and rhino experiences: Sign up for your time slot at the entrance. Cost is $10 per person (kids ages 5 and younger are free with a paying adult).  
• Historic carousel rides: Yes, the carousel is back open! Rides cost $3.
• Kid-favorite Zoomazium: It’s now open, Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Starting in July, this dream indoor playground will be open daily, except Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. 
• Wildlife Theater: Performances of “ZooVenture: A Hero’s Tail” showcase the zoo’s ambassador animals. The show plays twice daily.

Don’t forget that memberships starting at the Family Passport level come with complimentary animal experiences and carousel rides, so summer is a good time to join if you aren’t already a member. 

Note: Due to concerns about the highly contagious avian influenza virus, the zoo has moved its bird populations off-view for their safety (including the fan favorite Humboldt penguins and flamingos). We look forward to their healthy return!

With the zoo’s summer season hours in effect (9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. daily) and all these extras, our family is already looking forward to a summer of fun at the zoo!