I stepped into the rainforest. Eager, anticipating what lie ahead. A shaft of sunlight found its way through the dense foliage and my eyes followed it to where it lighted – playing and dancing on the undergrowth beneath the trees and I followed it. Standing in the midst of green, surrounded and engulfed by it on all sides, I felt as a speck amongst the massive trees and plants. Standing there, adjusting to the seeming stillness, my eyes scanned my surroundings – looking and listening. This place, outwardly calm and quiet, was alive, and so, I sensed that I was not alone, yet not frightened by it. I heard quiet murmurings, felt slight movements of things yet unseen and, without feeling it a choice, was pulled along the path of discovery.

A whirring overhead, I looked up to see tiny birds flashing past from tree to tree, singing their song in their flight. There were turtles, sunning and splashing in the small pool of water up ahead and as I got closer and stepped onto the bridge I saw that there were fish, plentiful and golden, swimming along with the water’s flow. The rushing water lured me on till I came upon a larger pool tracing its source to a majestic waterfall. There, nestled among the trees and flanking the waterfall were orchids and other tropical flowers, a rainbow of color among the green. It was enchanting.

Knowing this was not all, I continued further still and came upon a banquet laid ready on a broad banana leaf – pineapple, mango, papaya. Who put it there and for whom? Pondering this thought, I clearly heard another, more recognizable sound. Man. Too far as yet, but knowing the deep timber of a man’s voice, I moved toward it and in the distance saw him – gesturing in conversation with someone. He was standing in front of what seemed to be a mesh box, the contents of which was causing some excitement. Just as I approached, his hand went to the latch and he lifted it to an explosion of color and movement as hundreds and hundreds of butterflies of every size and color were released. They flew with abandon in every direction – swirling, flitting, coming to rest all around me and gorging on the set out fruits.

Okay, it does sound somewhat like a contrived, formula paperback doesn’t it? But hey, it is after all my flight of fancy.

What is this place, this place that excites my imagination and feels my senses with nature’s delights!!

I wish I could tell you that it was in some remote, tropical mountain rainforest in the South Pacific. In reality I was a visitor at the Butterfly Rainforest in the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville’s University of Florida.

If you ever thought you would like to commune with nature and walk on the “wild side” in a Rainforest, and can’t quite yet trek to the real thing, why not do as I did and head up to the Butterfly Rainforest. It was actually very lovely. Yep, somewhat like I described above. But being a part of UF there is also an awesome educational component with the multiple labs in full view through large plate glass windows. These could be viewed as I meandered down the long hallway papered with pictures and mounted butterflies of every size an hue.

There is an admission fee which varies for children adults, and seniors but not more than to just go to the movies. I really recommend taking a look. As a matter of fact, the complex that houses this exhibit also boasts other natural history exhibits which are actually free and that I will definitely return to see. For more information, hours and directions click here to take a closer look.