Pacific Science Center is closed to the public until September 25 but that doesn’t mean that the Life Sciences staff is on vacation. On the contrary!
First of all, we are taking advantage of this closure to thoroughly clean the Tropical Butterfly House. Horticulturists Jeff Leonard and Maida Ingalls are dramatically pruning back the foliage, amending the soil, planting and transplanting. With the help of Discovery Corp Horticulture Intern Ileana and other staff members, they are cleaning, painting, changing out the day-light light bulbs and, for the first time in 5 years, completely replacing the netting.
Replacing the unobtrusive netting that surrounds the interior and ceiling of the Tropical Butterfly House is the most challenging task we face. The netting is our secondary containment structure while the windows serve as our primary containment structure. Should a window break, the net keeps the butterflies from escaping. Butterfly containment is our most important focus!
First of all, we are taking advantage of this closure to thoroughly clean the Tropical Butterfly House. Horticulturists Jeff Leonard and Maida Ingalls are dramatically pruning back the foliage, amending the soil, planting and transplanting. With the help of Discovery Corp Horticulture Intern Ileana and other staff members, they are cleaning, painting, changing out the day-light light bulbs and, for the first time in 5 years, completely replacing the netting.
Replacing the unobtrusive netting that surrounds the interior and ceiling of the Tropical Butterfly House is the most challenging task we face. The netting is our secondary containment structure while the windows serve as our primary containment structure. Should a window break, the net keeps the butterflies from escaping. Butterfly containment is our most important focus!
Over time, holes have appeared in the netting because of light damage, foliage growth, and just plain aging. After 5 years, we are no longer able to keep up with mending these holes and therefore, new netting has been ordered. Over 500 square yards of 1/4 inch netting material will be fitted, connected and hung during the closure weeks.
Although the pupae purchases were suspended until September 21, there are still quite a few butterflies flying around the Tropical Butterfly House. Staff is busily cleaning around the long-lived lepidoptera.
The horticulture team has been putting in long hours and hard labor all week in an effort to have the Tropical Butterfly House look fantastic by the time we reopen. We are very thankful for all their hard work!
Check back as we keep you up-to-date on the progress of The Big Clean.
Very cool! It's going to look great!
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