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Flutter fest set for Wednesday

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VAIL, Colorado – Thousands of painted ladies will be taking their first flutter soon at America’s highest altitude botanical garden. Five hundred Eagle County third-graders are expected to participate in the annual Butterfly Launch at noon on Wednesday at Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail’s Ford Park.

“The Butterfly Launch is one of the most festive celebrations we offer at the Gardens. It is great fun for the children to witness Mother Nature work her wonders in transforming a caterpillar into a butterfly,” said Ann Kurronen, the Gardens’ executive director. “This is a joyous event and a wonderful learning opportunity for our local third-graders.”

The students, from 25 classrooms in both public and private schools throughout Eagle County, were supplied this spring with kits including a viewing net, caterpillars and food. Over the course of about a month, they’ve raised the caterpillars, watching as each pupated and turned into a butterfly ready to take flight.



This year’s Butterfly Launch is underwritten by United Way of the Eagle River Valley and the Holy Cross Energy Round-Up Foundation in support of the Gardens’ children’s education programs.

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, at 8,250 feet above sea level, is the highest altitude botanical garden in the United States – and perhaps the world – providing free access to an estimated 100,000 visitors annually. Conserving plants of the American West, its mission is to inspire passion for plants in high-altitude communities through beautification, conservation, education and research programs. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization’s operations and programs are funded entirely through the generosity of donors.

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For the complete events schedule or more information about the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, call 970-476-0103 or visit http://www.bettyfordalpinegardens.org.


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