Free with Garden Admission, August 9, 10, 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Among the art installations, Grow Show and public programs recognizing the vulnerabilities of nature, experience an extraordinary immersion into the world of caterpillars. The Caterpillar Lab provides the opportunity for visitors of all backgrounds and interest levels to drop in often to see what’s happening in the Lab, as the exhibit changes and follows the lives of our local caterpillars. The Lab’s professional education staff can teach you about caterpillar biology and help you safely touch (and maybe even hold!) a caterpillar. Participants will witness the enormous diversity of native caterpillars as they explore the multitude of sizes, colors and forms displayed in this exhibit. Behold the process of metamorphosis in real time, explore microscopic stories of hidden insect lives within leaves, and discuss the nested ecological connections between caterpillars, their host plants, their predators and parasitoids. Stop by to chat about gardening for native pollinators, meet a big, bubbly caterpillar, discuss ongoing ecology research, or just marvel at the magic of the natural world! Installed concurrent with “The Lost Birds Project” exhibition and outdoor sculptures, the Lab promotes the importance of birds and caterpillars, encouraging visitors to support our host environment.