After stepping into the dense humidity of a room that seems to have been taken over by jungle plants, it looks as if it's a step into paradise. There are lush green plants, brightly colored flowers and most importantly, butterflies everywhere. The path to the exit is only about 20 paces long, but it can be hours before you've gotten to the end and seen enough. Back by popular demand, the Museum of Natural History is hosting an exhibit that features live, free-range butterflies in a tropical setting.

The first people to walk in are always the ones that wince and duck as the butterflies flap around the room, but after a while they all stand patiently still, in the hopes of having one land on them. And when one of them does take a resting place on an arm or an ear, they sit there calmly, slowly moving their wings back and forth. It's possible to look right up close to them and see their little bug eyes, the curled up "straw" they use for sipping nectar and their magnificent wings. Each pair is so intricately detailed, it looks as if they were laboriously hand-crafted by some divine painter. Some have the labyrinthine patterns of a "magic eye" picture, and even though others only display solid colors, they consist of such iridescent blues and glowing yellows that they are dazzling.

The guides who are scattered around tending to the flowers and disoriented butterflies are very informative. "Some butterflies have doses of cyanide in their bodies to protect them from birds of prey," says one guide. "And others live as long as nine months, in which time they migrate from Canada to Mexico and back." The guides all have pictures of every butterfly and their names to help point out certain types.

To get a closer look at some of the wing patterns, there are showcases in the adjoining hallway that contain butterfly specimens, some of which are types that could not survive in the conservatory. These glass cases depict the artistic aspect of these creatures, allowing closer inspection of the fragile texture of the wings. The most striking case housed a group of blue, iridescent butterflies, which slightly changed color as the perspective changed, like a hologram. Another case displayed the developing pupas (cocoons) of baby butterflies. All of the displays made the exhibit very informative.

As the security guard at the exit checks for butterflies that may try to hitch a ride on a shoulder or bag, the last view of the conservatory is filled with flying flower petals and people fascinated to watch them. After stepping outside, it's weird to be reminded that it's New York City, during the winter no less. That little room is a tropical sanctuary in the midst of a busy, cold city.

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