GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Frederik Meijer Gardens officially released this week its 60 colorful species of butterflies and moths into the exhibit that attracts thousands of people each year.

The popular exhibit, Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming - Light & Shadow exhibit, opens to the public on Friday, March 1.

Meijer Gardens members were able to get a first look at this year’s butterflies as they freely flew and fluttered around plants and trees throughout the exhibit. The exhibition attracts 185,000 visitors from all over the world each year, according to Frederik Meijer Gardens officials.

“We love it. Last year we came to the exhibit at least eight times,” said Art Vaneck, a Meijer Garden member who was visiting with his wife. “We keep coming back because the beauty of it, we see new butterflies every time we come, and you get to see a wide variety.”

The exhibit will be open to the public March 1-April 30.

The price for admission for adults (14-64 years old) is $14.50 and $11 for seniors (65 and older) and students (with student ID). Children fees (5-13 years old) are $7, children (3-4 years old) are $4, and children 2 and younger may enter for free. Members also get in for free.

Guest who come out to visit can observe 60 colorful species of butterflies and moths from butterfly-rich regions of Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Philippines and Kenya. The butterflies are kept in the five-story-tall, 15,000-square-foot Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory.

The butterflies’ exhibit is maintained at 85 degrees and 70 percent humidity. It is designed to mimic the tropical regions that the butterflies call home. This year’s exhibition highlights how light and shadow affect butterflies, their color and the natural environment of the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory.

“When you first step into the space, it is very warm and over 7,000 butterflies will be flying around in this space,” said Laurel Gaut, horticulturist for Frederik Meijer Gardens. "We get one species in particular, it’s the smallest butterfly we have received and it’s called the Clear Wing and its chrysalis is tiny, it looks like a little raindrop and I love those guys.”

The redesigned observation station features a more sleek and cleaner look with longer windows so all guests can view the chrysalises. The station also features silver or gold patches that act like mirrors and reflect sunlight.

More than 1,000 pupae arrive at Meijer Gardens weekly from around the world.

“The thing I love about butterflies is that you look at their chrysalis at our observation station and then you look at the butterfly that comes out of it and sometimes they don’t look alike at all,” Gaut said. “I think that’s so fascinating how they change so much, and you get to see both stages here.”