We’re frequent visitors to RHS Wisley but there’s something special about their Butterflies in the Glasshouse event.
The state-of-the-art Glasshouse is huge, it’s 40ft high and occupies an area equivalent to 10 tennis courts. Inside are tropical, moist and dry climatic zones as well as a world class plant collection. The palms, creepers and bright flowers make you feel like you’re in the jungle.
Whenever you go to the Glasshouse, you can expect to see rare and endangered species not to mention beautiful orchids. An annual event, the exotic butterfly event is held in the tropical zone where you’ll find lush foliage and dramatic flowers. It’s environment is similar to that of a tropical rain forest so it’s warm.
A butterfly spotter guide is provided when you arrive so you know what to look for and what you’ve seen. POD was hugely excited about seeing the butterflies even though she did refer to them as “butt-flies”. There are also gigantic chrysalis sculptures in the Glasshouse for the duration of the event.
The butterfly below is a Blue Morpho – it’s the most fabulous colour blue when its wings are open. It teased a few times but it was adamant that shot wasn’t there for the taking!
This is an Asian Swallowtail covered in pollen.
This is two Owl butterflies looking like they’re watching you.
This black and white one is a Tree Nymph.
And this is a Clipper.
It’s a wonderful experience seeing the butterflies at RHS Wisley. This year you can book a timed slot if you’re visiting over the weekend. It’s so much better, we arrived first thing and didn’t queue at all.
After the butterflies, POD had a practice on her scooter and we had a relaxing wander around the gardens. We then checked out the new food hall – sampling coffee and cake in the process!
If you’d like to see more photographs, head over to Butterflies in the Glasshouse (part two).
Linking up with #CountryKids at Coombe Mill and #HDYGG at Mammasaurus.
Beautiful photos; what a great place. Reminds me of visits to the butterfly farm at Stratford-upon-Avon, glorious 🙂
Thank you Lisa, it really is a great event – quite keen to go back if I’m honest 🙂
Fab photos love the owl ones!
Thank you Becky – I love those ones too 🙂
It looks like a lovely place to visit, and your photos are so beautiful x
Thank you very much Jocelyn, it’s great there 🙂
Gorgeous, all these beautiful butterflies and cobwebs are cheering me up on a cold wet foggy Thursday!
Thank you very much Sarah 🙂
Beautiful photo’s we have a butterfly farm nearby and I’m tempted to take the children there now.
You really must Amy, it’s just wonderful they’ll love it I’m sure 🙂
What a lovely place to visit! You’ve got some fantastic photos of the butterflies 🙂
Thank you very much Gina 🙂
Stunning just stunning (and this leads me onto a random thing to say expect an email from me tonight – I am scheming!)
I love going to the local butterfly house – I really need to go minus the kids though as they tend to run head first at anything that settles before I can get a shot!
thanks for joining in again and sharing – I LOVE IT!
Thank you very much Annie. You need time on your own at the butterfly house – or Pappasaurus. JD came too so he could look after POD!
Love a good scheme 🙂
i saw some of these on your ig feed and it felt like you were somewhere in miami. absolutely magical. so many amazing butterflies….
I wish I was in Miami Claudia! Thank you very much 🙂
Beautiful butterflies, looks like a great place to visit x #HDYGG
It really is Alex – fabulous butterflies 🙂
Wow! I haven’t been to a butterfly house since I was a kid. Your photo of the Blue Morpho is stunning. Amazing photos, I love every single one of them.
Thank you very much Gemma, very kind of you 🙂
I always mean to go to Wisley but have never been. The idea of a nice warm glasshouse sounds very appealing at this time of year and the booking system is great tip.
You really should if you can Kirsty, it’s probably less than an hour away from you. Definitely book if you do go on a weekend 🙂
Beautiful set of photographs 🙂 Have never been to RHS Wisley, but will have to add it to the list. I’ve been to see the butterflies at Tropical Wings in South Woodham Ferrers, and love watching them flutter by (and photograph them of course!)
Thank you very much Michelle, Tropical Wings in South Woodham Ferrers sounds amazing 🙂
Extraordinary shots of the butterflies – it must be a special treat to see them. And I always love orchids with their simple lines and vibrant colors.
Thank you very much Kathleen, it’s an annual event so great to see them. Love orchids too 🙂
Gorgeous photos!
I think my 11 y/o is the only person in the world who is scared of butterflies lol
Thank you Cass – and bless him 🙂
I have just passed my test and got my first car yesterday.. One of the things on my list to to take the girls to a butterfly farm! I love them and cannot wait to visit one soon x
That’s so exciting, congratulations on passing your test and getting the car. Great news. You must take the girls to a butterfly farm once you’re settled 🙂
I am sorry, but fluttery things give me the heebie jeebies!
Bless you Jen 🙂
I love butterfies. Your photographs are amazing and it looks like a beautiful place to visit!
Thank you very much Lucy 🙂
I spotted a parrot plan on one of the pictures!
I love this plant.
Bought it few times but was never able to keep it alive 🙁
How exciting – I will be off to check! I’m not very good with plants that need lots of special care either 🙂
Those owl butterflies are AWESOME! Well, all your pictures are awesome. Gorgeous post xx
Thank you very much – what a lovely thing to say 🙂
I’ve still not taken my boys to a butterfly house – am sure your photos are even greater than the real thing though, they are so beautiful.
You are too lovely – thank you very much. You must take them to a butterfly house though 🙂
Oooh, that sounds amazing!
It’s lovely Jenny – great for kids too 🙂
Spectacular photos of those butterflies, it looks like you got really close to them. My sun was talking about butterflies today so I think he would love to visit.
Thank you very much Jenni – you should definitely visit if near to you, it’s fabulous 🙂
Stunning photos of the butterflies and I love the pretty tropical flowers. We have a butterfly house at Chester Zoo and I love it in there, seeing them all on the fruit pieces. There are mirrors near the exits for you to check that no sneaky butterflies are hitching a lift 🙂
I love that about the butterflies catching a lift, never thought of that. I didn’t see the ones in the Glasshouse land on anyone although I was a little preoccupied with photo taking and toddler watching. The tropical flowers are fabulous 🙂
Wow those pictures are amazing – butterflies always amaze me with there gorgeous colours and patterns x
Thank you Sarah – they’re fabulous aren’t they. There’s a large red and black one I wanted to photograph but it wouldn’t land!
Oh how beautiful! I was really looking forward to seeing these pics – and you didn’t disappoint! I adore butterflies and would love to visit somewhere like this – but I think I would wheel over the poor butterflies x
Thank you so much Vicky, what a lovely thing to say. The butterflies don’t stay still very long and land on the plants mostly so you’d be fine I’m sure 🙂
The photography in this post blew me away. I have always loved butterflies but never been able to get up this close. Spectacular! x
Oh wow Liska thank you very much 🙂
wow wow wow those butterfly pics are amazing! what lens are you using? x
Thank you very much Fritha. I would have loved to use my 60mm but ended up with the 18-200mm so I could capture the butterflies over people’s shoulders 🙂
I love butterflies and was sad to see our local butterfly farm had closed when I looked into taking the kids – that said Isaac had a fit when we saw some in London zoo – they were attracted to his bright t-shirt – never seen him run so fast lol
Poor Isaac! That must have been quite amusing for everyone else though! Such a shame your butterfly farm closed. This event is only once a year but worth the wait 🙂
Wonderful photographs!
Thank you Helen 🙂
Wow – beautiful pics. I got a real sense of calm while looking at them. I flip between loving butterflies and finding them a bit creepy (aren’t they just pretty moths??) but these photos are beautiful 🙂
Thank you very much Alison, there is definitely a sense of calm with butterflies. Perhaps here it’s because they’re still 🙂
I’ve got a bit of a butterfly phobia thing going on… x I like them in your photos, but up close, I’ll be flapping around like a twat! 😉 lol
That sounds hilarious, realise it really shouldn’t be! They were pretty high most of these ones though so you’d probably be alright!
I’ve spent hours as Wisley when I lived closer wonderful place, stunning photographs
Thank you Becky 🙂
What a wonderful visit – the photos are just stunning! Even more jealous that usual of all the beautiful NT properties you have near you 🙂 #CountryKids
Thank you Sara 🙂
Lovely photos! I aspire to take such beautiful photos one day – though I’m sure from this post at least the subjects helped the prettiness 😉 x
Your photos are beautiful Mrs! Butterflies certainly help with the pretty factor though 🙂
I recognise the orchid from the Tropical biome at the Eden project. I’ve never seen them anywhere else but I guess this is an obvious place too. Some lovely photography here. Thanks for joining me for Country Kids
I do love the orchids at Wisley Fiona, there are always some in the Glasshouse. So beautiful to photograph 🙂
Just stunning
Thank you Susan 🙂
i love her coat! always a good day that is finished off with coffee and cake!
Thank you Sarah. Coffee and cake is the best after brushing away those cobwebs 🙂
That sounds just perfect and what absolutely amazing images, as always 🙂
Thank you Iona – would have loved to have stayed longer in the there but it’s super hot!
I’ve seen a few Wisley posts recently, all taking me back to my childhood, although I don’t remember a Butterfly House. I must take Monkey there this year! #CountryKids
You’ve probably seen quite a few here too! The butterflies at the Glasshouse is an event on once a year. It’s on until early March though so still time 🙂
It looks like a super place to visit i would love it there never mind Joshua x
It’s fabulous Jaime – so beautiful, even more so with the butterflies 🙂
Stunning photographs as ever! #countrykids
Thank you very much 🙂
Lovely to see more photos from the Silent Sunday one you posted. Thank you. I have been to Wisley as it’s on my way from the ferry at Portsmouth to friends near Dartford. However I have only ever got as far as the shop to buy seeds. Now I want to go to see the butterflies!
Oh Rosie you must venture in when you’re next over. The butterflies are only there once a year (from Jan to early March) but it’s beautiful any time of year. Thank you 🙂
What absolutely stunning photos of the “butt-flies”!! Beautiful.
Thank you Kriss 🙂
Amazing captures…. X
Thank you very much Sarah 🙂
The photos are stunning! Such vibrant colours and excellent detail #CountryKids
Thank you very much 🙂
Incredible shots as usual. I think I actually gasped!
Bless you! Thank you very much 🙂
what wonderful photos! on my list of places to visit x
Thank you Charmaine, it was fabulous 🙂
Love the shots! Super sharp! My kids loved the glasshouse and butterflies. They also liked being toasty in the tropical heat ;o)
Thank you Jon, very kind of you. The Glasshouse is great isn’t it – so nice being in the warmth. The tropical zone is always my favourite, even without the butterflies 🙂
ooh they’re good at the moment, we’ve been every year since they started doing it! Last year there were crazy queues though as clearly word has got round.
I still find it unbelievable – and rather wonderful – that Wisley do not charge you on top of the entrance fee for this.
Fabulous capture. Thanks for a gorgeous post Charly.
Oh how fabulous Emma. We went for the first time last year and didn’t get to see the butterflies the first time, the queues were dreadful. It was great this time though, if you go on a weekend you can book a time slot 🙂
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