Few creatures in nature are more beautiful and majestic than the butterfly. They begin life as a worm-like insect that eats all day, naps for weeks in a self-made sleeping bag and then emerges looking so fabulous that theyre immortalized forever in countless teenaged girls tattoos. And now Newport Beachs Environmental Nature Center has created a habitat for our favorite fluttery insects by building Orange Countys only Butterfly Househome to native butterflies like the Monarch, Buckeye, West Coast Lady, California Dogface (our state butterfly) and 45 different species of nectar plantsthat opens this Saturday. Explore the carefully arranged habitat, buy a butterfly host plant, go on a scavenger hunt, play eco-games and make crafts out of recyclables, and then get yourself a butterfly face painting (Itll only last a few hours but its good practice for that tattoo youll have on your ass as soon as you turn 18).
Sat., May 2, 10 a.m., 2009