Knoxville Zoo's popular Bloomin' Butterfly Gardens, a beautifully landscaped butterfly habitat featuring approximately 800 native butterflies, including Malachite, Monarch, Variegated Fritillaries, Gulf Fritillaries, a variety of Swallowtails, Zebra Longwings, Julia Longwings, Great Southern White, Cloudless Sulfers and Buckeyes, opened May 18.

With so many "flying flowers", Bloomin' Butterfly Gardens will be awash with color. Zoo visitors can watch these friendly residents as they sip nectar, perch in sunny locations and perhaps even hitch a ride on passing guests. The garden also features a pupae room that allows visitors to watch as clumsy caterpillars metamorphose into beautiful butterflies, and maybe even catch a glimpse of a brand-new butterfly emerging from their chrysalis. New this year is a sensory garden that invites visitors to smell, touch and see featured plants.

Bloomin' Butterfly Gardens is included with general zoo admission. For more information on Bloomin' Butterfly Gardens, visit Knoxville Zoo's Web site at knoxvillezoo.org or call 865-637-5331.