Monarch release, UT Insect Zoo, speakers, and children’s activities are highlights

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will present its Second Annual Butterfly Festival on Saturday, July 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum Auditorium and surrounding grounds, 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.  It is cosponsored by the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center. The gate will be open at 9:30 a.m., with coffee and donuts available.  The event will take place rain or shine, a press release said.

The event, which drew hundreds of area participants in 2016, is designed for children and adults of all ages. There is ample parking in designated areas of the Arboretum adjacent to the event, the press release said.

The day’s highlight will be the release of 100 butterflies, some at noon and the remainder at 2 p.m.

“We invite children to help release the monarch butterflies, which will be offered at a cost of $10 per butterfly,” the press release said. Cash or credit cards will be accepted.

Nationally recognized author Rita Venable is the keynote speaker. An award-winning writer, photographer, and butterfly expert, Rita will speak about “Small-scale Butterfly Gardening” at 10 a.m. At 1 p.m., she will speak on “Butterflies of Tennessee,” the subject of her popular book. Her book will be available for purchase and signing, the press release said. [Read more…]